Creating Competitive Advantage in Scottish Family Businesses

This chapter seeks to consider both the role that knowledge transfer may have in family businesses and the different manners in which knowledge transfer may take place within this diverse environment. The economic, social and community importance of family businesses within Scotland is considered, alongside the different manner in which family businesses commonly operate and the implications for knowledge transfer. The importance of knowledge transfer in the creation of competitive advantage within a family business environment and the relatively limited nature of research in this area are explored, highlighting the need for further research both to support the on-going development of a strategy for family businesses in Scotland and to facilitate future development of high quality knowledge transfer. Key to all of this, however, is an increased understanding of what is meant by knowledge transfer and the breadth of ways in which it happens.