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.

中文翻译：

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了解家族企业长寿的主要驱动力：商业家族学习的作用

摘要通过对三个德国历史悠久的家族企业的探索性研究，我们提出了研究家族企业寿命的理论框架。到目前为止，研究主要集中在企业的分析水平上，而本研究旨在阐明企业家族学习在这些历史悠久的家族企业的长寿中的作用。此外，业务家族被认为是一个能够学习和发展的独立组织实体。利用组织学习的概念，我们发现高层次学习是定义企业家族目的的工具，即跨代控制和必要结构的实施。较低级别的学习可确保这些继承过程适应环境变化。讨论了对理论和实践的影响。