Business family identity in single family offices – A configurational approach

Clemens Christian Krüger, Christian-Titus Klaiber and Reinhard Prügl

Journal of Family Business Strategy, 2025, vol. 16, issue 4

Abstract: This study examines how single family offices (SFOs) can serve as vessels for preserving business family identity (BFI) in both the presence and absence of operating family firms. Through a configurational analysis of survey data from 51 German SFOs, we identify nine distinct pathways through which business families preserve their distinctive identity. We demonstrate that BFI preservation is achievable through various configurations of asset management strategies, governance structures, and service intensity. The study indicates the equifinal nature of identity preservation, demonstrating how both stand-alone and hybrid SFOs can achieve similar BFI preservation outcomes through different mechanisms. These findings advance our understanding of how business families preserve their entrepreneurial identity in diverse organizational contexts.

Keywords: Single family offices; Business family identity; Identity preservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:fambus:v:16:y:2025:i:4:s1877858525000385

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2025.100697

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