Sub-Plenary 1-5

The Evolution of the Family in Contemporary Society: Implications for Organizations

Thursday, July 9, 2026, 12:30-14:00 CEST
Hybrid – Room: tba


Organizers:
Cristina Bettinelli, Università degli studi di Bergamo, Italy
Giovanna Campopiano, Università degli studi di Bergamo, Italy
Emanuela Rondi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Chair:
Cristina Bettinelli, Università degli studi di Bergamo, Italy

Panelists:
Emanuela Rondi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Howard Aldrich, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US
Evelyn Micelotta, Grossman School of Business, University of Vermont, US
Roy Suddaby, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Canada
 

The definition and structure of "family" are evolving, driven by shifts in cultural norms, demographic trends, and globalization. These transformations of individuals and households profoundly affect organizations - especially family businesses, firms with dynamics that are uniquely positioned at the intersection of personal and organizational levels. This session will examine the implications of these social changes for organizations, focusing on fostering novel research agendas that integrate insights from family therapy, anthropology, sociology, and management. By leveraging these interdisciplinary perspectives, the session aims to provide a foundation for innovative and impactful scholarship on the evolution of families and their influence on organizations.

The evolving definition and structure of family in general and of related constructs like kinship and household significantly impact organizational structures, governance systems, and long-term strategies, making it a critical area of inquiry for understanding the interplay between social change and organizations. Organizations such as family businesses, deeply embedded in societal and cultural norms, are particularly sensitive to these shifts, and their responses offer a compelling lens for examining broader organizational adaptations to social transformations.

By examining how changes in the family–such as multi-generational households, diverse family forms, and shifting gender roles–affect governance, succession, strategy, and entrepreneurial initiatives, this session provides a foundation for advancing organizational scholarship.

The interdisciplinary nature of this session will enable participants to grasp a novel and holistic understanding of the evolution of the family definition and structure and their organizational implications. This approach enriches the discourse by incorporating diverse viewpoints and methodologies, offering actionable insights for shaping future research agendas. For doctoral students and early-career scholars, this session offers:

  1. Exploration of social and organizational transformations: Highlighting how organizations reflect and adapt to the changes of the family, providing a rich context for studying family and organizational evolutions, resilience, and legitimacy embedded in cultural dynamics.

  2. Research agenda development: Identifying underexplored intersections between family dynamics and organizational theory, such as the reflection of societal values on governance or the role of non-family stakeholders in adapting to family structure changes.

  3. Collaborative opportunities: Engaging with experienced scholars to co-create actionable research questions, helping participants align their scholarly pursuits with pressing real-world challenges.

This session invites participants to consider the profound connections between family, society, and organizations, offering a timely opportunity to contribute to the dialogue on social change and its organizational consequences. By emphasizing the family business context, the session aligns with EGOS’s commitment to exploring organizational complexities while providing actionable insights for shaping future research agendas.

Key topics will include:

  • How demographic and cultural shifts—such as aging populations, and changing family roles—reshape governance practices and decision-making structures in organizations.

  • The influence of family expectations on business strategies, including succession planning, transgenerational entrepreneurship, and intergenerational collaboration.

  • How the evolving definition and structure of the family redefines the enterprising family boundaries, membership criteria, individual roles, and the behavioral expectations associated with familial belonging.
     

Biographies

Cristina Bettinelli is a Professor of Management at the University of Bergamo, where she also directs the Center for Young and Family Enterprise (CYFE). Her research explores the behavioral and governance aspects of family firms. She has published in journals such as the Journal of Management Studies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Family Business Review, amongst others. Professor Bettinelli holds a PhD from the University of Bergamo and a Harvard Higher Education Teaching Certificate. She is a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute. She was a visiting researcher at the Harvard University and visiting professor at the Universities of Linz, Austria and Grenoble, France.

Giovana Campopiano – tba

Emanuela Rondi – tba

Howard Aldrich – tba

Evelyn Micelotta is Associate Professor and the Steven Grossman Chair in Family Business at the Grossman School of Business, University of Vermont, USA. Her research interests include institutional maintenance and change, family enterprises, and sociocultural dynamics in entrepreneurial settings. Evelyn’s research has been published in Journal of Management, Academy of Management Annals, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Organization Studies, and Family Business Review, among others.

Roy Suddaby is the Winspear Chair of Management at the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Canada; Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Carson College of Business at Washington State University, USA; and Chair in Organization Theory at the University of Liverpool Management School, United Kingdom. Roy’s research focuses on organizational and social change and has been published in Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Human Relations, and Journal of Business Venturing, among other related leading management journals.