Multigenerational enterprising families operate multiple ventures, investments, and initiatives, while holding diversified asset portfolios. These ventures and organizations form an enterprising family ecosystem that develops over time and is unique for each family. Drawing on the concept of the dominant coalition as a decision-making process of a group of individuals, we explore how the idiosyncrasies of the dominant coalition influence enterprising families' ecosystem development pattern. We build on multiple case study research of elite enterprising families to identify the functions and influence of the dominant coalition, and three distinctive patterns that shape the direction of their ecosystems. We contribute to the literature by understanding the active and dynamic role of the dominant coalition, the strategic directions at the ecosystem level, and the heterogeneity of enterprising families.
