Knowledge Management in Family Businesses: A Model Proposal Based On Qualitative Findings

Family businesses are characterized by unique structures where knowledge management processes are shaped through intergenerational transfer, tacit knowledge, and trust-based relationships. Despite this, theoretical and contextual analyses of how knowledge is managed within such organizations remain limited. This study offers an exploratory model proposal developed from 14 papers presented at the Türkiye Family Business Congress between 2004–2024. The proposal is not a generalizable model, but rather a conceptual mapping derived through content analysis. The research is grounded in Charmaz’s (2008) constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding. The findings reveal that 'knowledge application' is the most emphasized process, indicating a practical and experience-based orientation in family firms. Conversely, 'knowledge creation' and 'external knowledge integration' remain underdeveloped. Recent papers increasingly highlight themes such as digitalization, information security, and institutionalization. The results suggest that internal dynamics primarily drive knowledge management in family businesses, while strategic knowledge capabilities remain limited. Proposed conceptual model aligns with the knowledge-based view and contributes to a theoretical understanding of knowledge management practices specific to family businesses contexts.