IJFBP International Journal of Family Business Practices
Vol 1, No 1 (2018)

Sharing tacit business knowledge between founder and successor in family business: case studies in Vietnam

Thanh Trung Pham (University of Gloucestershire Business School)
Robin Bell (University of Worcester)
David Newton (University of Gloucestershire Business School)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2018

Abstract

The purposes of this study are to explore in detail the tacit business knowledge transfer process and the effective transfer method from founder to successor in Vietnamese family businesses. This study, using separate interviews of paired founders and successors in five Vietnamese family businesses, aims to contribute to the general understanding of such processes in South East Asian family businesses. This study confirms that the tacit business knowledge transfer process is an on-going process until the founder is unable to continue due to physical or mental health preventing further communication. In addition, it indicates that the mentor-mentee method is the most common method for tacit knowledge transfer process. Storytelling is also a common process; unlike traditional Western SMEs, use of formal documentation tends to be far less prevalent as a way of transferring knowledge. The findings of this study show that not all of tacit business knowledge from the founder is important to the successor. Therefore, a successor needs time spent alone to contemplate each tacit business lesson, before determining whether to absorb it. 

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Journal Info

Abbrev

IJFBP

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

The International Journal of Family Business Practices (IJFBP) is open access and biannual double-blind peer-reviewed journal. Numerous family enterprises are based around the legend of an entrepreneurial founder who has stood firm in the face of difficulties. The IJFBP widens the scope to look ...