Entrepreneurial learning: the transmitting and embedding of entrepreneurial behaviours within the transgenerational entrepreneurial family

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to explore how entrepreneurial behaviours are transmitted and embedded across generations within a Transgenerational Entrepreneurial Family (TEF). Although extant family business research has acknowledged the importance of learning in facilitating the transference of values, norms and attitudes, we know little about how learning embeds entrepreneurial behaviours at the family level. In order to address this, we adopted a longitudinal perspective of four TEF cases, drawing on numerous interviews, archival sources and observational instances. An iterative procedure for data analysis, which involved open coding, within-case analyses, second-order coding and cross-case analysis, was undertaken. Our findings illustrate how the implementation of entrepreneurial behaviours within TEFs was a process of negotiation and reification, informed by differences among families in response to critical incidents. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the presence of entrepreneurial behaviour enablers in each TEF has facilitated the perpetuation of entrepreneurial behaviours. Finally, we illuminate the importance of unlearning, the disregarding of prior learning to accommodate new information and behaviours, in the TEF context, where such entities are faced with unlearning paradoxes that subsequently influence their entrepreneurial behaviours.

KEYWORDS:

• Transgenerational entrepreneurial family
• entrepreneurial learning
• entrepreneurial behaviours
• critical incidents
• longitudinal case study methodology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. The STEP project was created in 2005 by Babson College in collaboration with six academic affiliates in Europe. It is a global research initiative that aims to uncover how entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities are passed across generations, enabling them to create new streams of value. As of 2015, STEP has grown to include 40 institutions with over 175 scholars across five global regions.

2. This data collection period from 2011–2017 was chosen as it marked the aftermath of a worldwide economic downturn and an increase in entrepreneurial activity in this region (OECD 2017).

3. Only questions relevant to this study.

4. Follow-up questions not included in original STEP interview guide.