TY - JOUR

T1 - Re-framing the status of narrative in family business research

T2 - towards an understanding of families in business

AU - Hamilton, Eleanor Elizabeth

AU - Discua Cruz, Allan Fernando

AU - Jack, Sarah Louise

N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Family Business Strategy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Family Business Strategy, 8, 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2016.11.001

PY - 2017/3

Y1 - 2017/3

N2 - This article will emphasize the status and relevance of narrative research in the study of families in business and family business strategy. It argues that narratives can provide a better understanding of the intricate connections between family and business and across family generations in business. Narratives generate knowledge by helping to shape a collective identity and as a form of intergenerational communication. By focusing on narratives as a phenomenological inquiry, we argue that interviews allow researchers to engage often in emotionally charged and intimate conversations with individuals that want to talk about experiences as members of a family business. This paper will discuss the usefulness of narrative approaches for family business strategy research, develop a catalogue of research questions for exploration, highlight challenges and offer solutions to deal with them when using narrative methods in family business research. This paper argues that while several challenges may be encountered, narratives allow researchers to delve into the intricate lives of members of a family in business.

AB - This article will emphasize the status and relevance of narrative research in the study of families in business and family business strategy. It argues that narratives can provide a better understanding of the intricate connections between family and business and across family generations in business. Narratives generate knowledge by helping to shape a collective identity and as a form of intergenerational communication. By focusing on narratives as a phenomenological inquiry, we argue that interviews allow researchers to engage often in emotionally charged and intimate conversations with individuals that want to talk about experiences as members of a family business. This paper will discuss the usefulness of narrative approaches for family business strategy research, develop a catalogue of research questions for exploration, highlight challenges and offer solutions to deal with them when using narrative methods in family business research. This paper argues that while several challenges may be encountered, narratives allow researchers to delve into the intricate lives of members of a family in business.

KW - Narrative research

KW - families in business

KW - phenomenological inquiry

KW - entrepreneurship

KW - family business strategy

U2 - 10.1016/j.jfbs.2016.11.001

DO - 10.1016/j.jfbs.2016.11.001

M3 - Journal article

VL - 8

SP - 3

EP - 12

JO - Journal of Family Business Strategy

JF - Journal of Family Business Strategy

SN - 1877-8585

IS - 1

ER -