Generation AI and family business: a perspective article

PurposeThis perspective article responds to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a significant opportunity for growth among family businesses, highlighting the need for future research to attain a clear picture of the next generation of family business successors.Design/methodology/approachThis is a literature review of current technology adoption within family businesses. The authors offer some research insight to spur critical thinking and discourse around the impact of AI on family business successors.FindingsFamily businesses are initially skeptical of AI technology. However, its use and adoption are crucial for the survival of the family business. To leverage this technology, the authors need to investigate the role of the family business successors as “Gen AI.”Originality/valueIt is challenging but necessary to develop policies and educational support for successors to ensure the survival of family businesses worldwide. The authors propose four key areas of future research.</p

Gamification to enhance engagement and higher order learning in entrepreneurial education

Purpose – In an effort to enhance the student experience and achieve complex learning outcomes the use of gamification in higher education is increasing. Using two case studies, this paper explores the efficacy of two discrete inclusions of gamification in entrepreneurial education. Design/methodology/approach – In the first case study, students leveraged their taught knowledge about gamification to develop a gamified business concept. In the second case study, students played a humanitarian game and provided feedback about its design and efficacy. Findings – The students’ overall engagement with entrepreneurial education was significantly influenced by two factors: their perceived learning about gamification; and their perceived engagement with the gamification. It was observed that highly engaged students considered the gamification component of the course challenging. Originality/value – This study demonstrates the potential of gamification to enhance engagement and to foster higher-order learning in the context of entrepreneurial education.</p

Social sexual behaviour and co-worker trust in start-up enterprises

Workplace behaviours and norms are gaining increased prominence in the literature on start-up enterprises. Research attention has focused on the critical role that these behaviours and norms play in influencing start-up effectiveness but our understanding of their role in influencing trust in a start-up environment is underdeveloped. The present article investigates the role that workplace social sexual behaviours play in shaping co-worker trust within start-ups. Using data from the GUESSS (2018) international study of entrepreneurial attitudes and experiences, we find that certain social sexual behaviours undermine trust, and related outcomes such as the willingness to delegate and the sense that co-workers are honest. In particular, experiencing inappropriate looks, flirtation, or sexual gossip predict lower levels of co-worker trust. Our findings also indicate that characteristics of the source of the behaviour are important in terms of gender and hierarchical relationship. In our discussion section, we consider the mechanisms underlying these relationships and in particular how social sexual behaviour may influence trustworthiness. Taken together, our results point to a significant efficiency cost to new enterprises that take a permissive view of social sexual behaviour in the workplace