Högskolan i Skövde

This paper examines family firms that have endured for more than 100 years, focusing on how their hybrid identities, combining the normative values of the family with the utilitarian goals of the business, contribute to their longevity. We address two research questions: How do family firms achieve longevity beyond 100 years? How do long-lived family firms develop into hybrid identity organizations? Empirically, we study long-lived family firms in Germany and Sweden, drawing on insights from the hybrid identity literature. We identify three key referents, historical, family, and industry-specific, that shape the development of hybrid identities over time. We argue that these referents play a central role in sustaining longevity, as they enable firms to evolve into hybrid identity organizations.