Understanding the main drivers of family firm longevity: the role of business family learning

Abstract Through an exploratory study of three long-standing German family firms, we propose a theoretical framework to study family firm longevity. Whereas research so far has mainly focused on the firm’s level of analysis, this study aims to elucidate the role of the business family learning in the longevity of these long-standing family firms. Moreover, the business family is considered as an independent organizational entity capable of learning and developing. Drawing upon the concept of organizational learning, we find higher-level learning as a vehicle for defining the purpose of the business family—transgenerational control—and the implementation of necessary structures—succession processes. Lower-level learning ensures these successions processes are adaptable to environmental changes. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.