Creation and Succession: Storytelling to Promote Experiential Learning in Family Business Education

Abstract

In this manuscript, we introduce a semester-long activity where students create a family firm to write about over the span of 100 years. Scenarios are considered from the perspective of the firm, as the object, reflecting on the life of the family business, rather than from the viewpoint of the founders or family members. Along with the introduction of the activity, we detail how this influences the family business classroom as a novel learning experience through greater engagement, in refining and considering decision-making, and by practicing creative writing skills through storytelling.