Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing in Chinese Family Firms: The Importance of Emotional Ownership

• Esch, Emmy Van 
• Chiang, Flora 
• Birtch, Thomas A. 
• Lee, Jean SK 

Abstract

The　current　study　examines　intergenerational　knowledge　sharing　in　Chinese　family　firms　from　the　perspective　of　the　successor.　Drawing　upon　the　attachment　(Bowlby,　1969)　and　social　identity　(Tajfel,　1978)　theories,　we　demonstrate　the　important　role　of　developing　a　sense　of　emotional　ownership　among　successors　in　order　for　intergenerational　knowledge　sharing　to　occur.　Results　from　164　successor-founder　dyads　in　family　firms　based　in　China　demonstrate　that　emotional　ownership　makes　successors　more　willing　to　take　over　the　family　firm,　which　in　turn,　motivates　them　to　share　knowledge　with　the　senior　generation.　Implications　for　theory　and　practice　are　discussed.

Keyword

Author Community

[Esch, Emmy Van] The Open U. of Hong Kong

[Chiang, Flora; Lee, Jean SK] China Europe International Business School

[Birtch, Thomas A.] University of South Australia

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