In search of family business continuity: the case of transgenerational family entrepreneurship

Anne Laakkonen, Juha Kansikas and Heli Valtonen

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2011, vol. 13, issue 2, 193-207

Abstract: This qualitative case study analyses continuity of transgenerational entrepreneurship in the family business. Transgenerational entrepreneurship is based on multigenerational, and in this particular firm, on the founder and next generation, business activities in the same family business. Methodologically, the data was collected by interviewing members of two generations of Imagon Ltd.; the founder, and his sons. Imagon Ltd. shows signs of transgenerational continuity. It did not start off that way in the founder's mind; his desire was just to work for himself and fulfil his own visions. It was only much later that the prospect of defining his company as a family business entered the picture during which time the succession process started naturally. The potential constraint for transgenerational value creation is the possible loss of next generation interest and therefore having no one to take over at that time.

Keywords: family influences; transgenerational entrepreneurship; family businesses; families; business continuity; multigenerational businesses; business founders; next generation interest; business activities; Imagon; Finland; illuminated advertising; Sweden; Northern Europe; transgenerational continuity; succession processes; potential constraints; value creation; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; entrepreneurs; R&D; research and development. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijesbu:v:13:y:2011:i:2:p:193-207

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