The Emergence of a Family Business Group: The Role of Portfolio Entrepreneurship

Abstract

There are explicit calls for deeper understanding of the creation and development of family business groups. Responding to this gap in the body of knowledge, this chapter presents a case study highlighting the role of portfolio entrepreneurship in the development of a family business group. This chapter opted for an exploratory case study approach and interviews were conducted with the founder—that is, with the portfolio entrepreneur—and the second-generation members. This research highlights three important points in family business group development: first, the group grows out from entrepreneurial actions; second, entrepreneurial objectives turn to family objectives; and third, the groups are able to remain rather loose due to close social bonds between the owners.