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Daniel Hjorth

Professor

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The Burden of History in the Family Business Organization

Author

  • Daniel Hjorth
  • Alexandra Dawson

Summary, in English

In this article we focus on the study of history through the use of narratives, within the context of the prevalent form of organization worldwide: the family business. Specifically we consider the dilemma of the impossible gift of succession using Nietzsche’s discussion of the burden of history and paralleling the story of a family business succession with that of Shakespeare’s King Lear. This way, we seek to make a contribution to organizational studies by answering recent calls to engage more with history in studies of business organizations. By implication, the study also initiates an integration of family business studies into organization studies.

Publishing year

2016-08-01

Language

English

Pages

1089-1111

Publication/Series

Organization Studies

Volume

37

Issue

8

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • family business
  • history
  • narratives
  • Nietzsche
  • succession

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0170-8406