Scandinavian Working Papers in Business Administration

JIBS Working Papers,
Jönköping International Business School

No 2010-1: STRATEGY FORMATION IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS: THE ROLE OF STORYTELLING

Ethel Brundin () and Björn Kjellander ()
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Ethel Brundin: Jönköping International Business School, Postal: P.O. Box 1026, SE-551 11 Jönköping,
Björn Kjellander: Jönköping International Business School, Postal: P.O. Box 1026, SE-551 11 Jönköping,

Abstract: This paper takes an interest in the past, as depicted by family business owners, and how it is reflected in the governance of the firm. The purpose of this paper is to explore how family business owners express and perceive their family business story and the implications for the strategy formation of the firm. Through the storytelling from 20 cases, we conclude that they embrace their past through different degrees of adoption and their promotion or prevention focus. We construct four typologies: strategy formation through reinforcement, renewal, remembrance and rhetoric. The implications of storytelling and these typologies are discussed.

Keywords: Family business history; storytelling; adoption; prevention-promotion; strategy typologies

42 pages, November 17, 2010

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