First (latent) generation and family business: a perspective article

Purpose – Family businesses are characterized by the simultaneous presence of the family and the business
system. The literature analyses sporadically the family support during the creation of a new family business.
For this reason, the aim of this article is to offer new reflections and theoretical approaches in the field of family
business studies. In fact, the study focuses on the first generation and the relationship and support with the
previous generation (latent generation).
Design/methodology/approach – This perspective paper is based on a concise review of the literature.
Findings – The results of this offer a state of the art, synthesized and integrated, on the first generation to
proposal the reader new knowledge on the first generation and relationships with family members.
Originality/value – This perspective paper distinguishes between the first generation formally engaged in
the family business and the latent generation. The authors identify latent generation as a generation coeval
with the first that supports the entrepreneur without being formally engaged in the family business. This
study summarizes existing research on the first generation, highlighting the crucial role of the latent
generation. Considering the latent generation determines an implicit and tacit generational transition not
yet considered in the literature on the topic This study provides new research directions for scholars
and managers to understand the entrepreneurial behaviors of families, family members and family
businesses.