Managing Knowledge within Intra-Family Succession

Isabella Hatak, Dietmar Roessl

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

A firm's specific knowledge and the ability and willingness to transfer it are considered key strategic assets in the course of generating competitive advantages. However, the characteristics of family firms implicate lower pressure to make knowledge explicit. Especially in the course of succession there is a high risk that knowledge embedded in the predecessor leaves the organization. In order to maintain the family firm's competitive advantage and to set the basis for innovating and improving efficiency, thus realizing the value of that knowledge, an understanding of the challenges associated with the knowledge transfer within intra-family succession is needed. By adopting a qualitative empirical approach, this paper aims at identifying context-based knowledge transfer strategies and at developing a typology of transfer constellations. The results provide insight for family firm leaders, who are searching for appropriate knowledge transfer strategies given the nature, philosophies and traditions of their small and medium sized firms.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Event57th ICSB International Council for Small Business World Conference 2012, Leading from the edge - Wellington, New Zealand
Duration: 10 Jun 201213 Jun 2012
Conference number: 57th

Conference

Conference57th ICSB International Council for Small Business World Conference 2012, Leading from the edge
Country/TerritoryNew Zealand
CityWellington
Period10/06/1213/06/12

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