Toward the Cluster Model: The Family Firm's Entrepreneurial Behavior Over Generations

Building on a longitudinal case study, this article describes the entrepreneurial behavior of a multinational family firm over generations. The study inductively raises the theoretic level to fill gaps in the literature about the family role in entrepreneurial behavior and addresses the singular count of the two- and three-circle models. The data analysis shows that entrepreneurial behavior emerges not only in response to business challenges but also and predominantly to family challenges. The cluster model is suggested as a necessary extension of the circle models, positing the family as the relevant level of analysis when considering entrepreneurial behavior and introducing the distinction between organic and portfolio, core and peripheral firms.