Family ties and emotions: a missing piece in the knowledge transfer puzzle

摘要

Purpose - The paper aims to develop a model of knowledge transfer that considers kinship ties and rnemotions in family-based firms.rnDesign/methodology/approach - There exist several models, which show how information flows rnamong individuals and within organizations. One school of thought is known as Cultural-Historical rnActivity Theory (CHAT), which was initially formulated by Lev Vygotsky, the Founder of the school.rnHowever, when analyzing CHAT within the family business context, the model no longer holds true.rnThis paper examines knowledge-transfer mechanisms through the lens of family firms.rnFindings - Family traditions, ties, and emotions, which are not considered in the original learning rnframework, affect knowledge transfer, commitment, and the motivation of family members. rnResearch limitations/implications - Based on CHAT and subsequently on other social networks rntheories, a more appropriate next generation learning model is developed which explains how rnintergenerational knowledge transfer takes place within family firms.rnPractical implications - This paper improves the understanding of how family members' shared knowledge (I.e. traditions) may become sources of competitive advantages for the family firm (I.e. long-term survival).rnOriginality/value - This paper is among the first known to examine knowledge-transfer mechanisms specifically for family-based businesses.