family - Publications - Faculty & Research

July 19, 2021
Article

Do Most Family Businesses Really Fail by the Third Generation?

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

Perhaps the most commonly-cited statistic about family businesses is their failure rates. Most articles or speeches about family businesses start with some version of the “three-generation rule,” which suggests that most don’t survive beyond three generations. But that... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Success; Perception

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06 Mar 2014
News

At Family Firms, Do CEOs Work Fewer Hours?

Apr 30 2019
Brochure

Entrepreneurial & Family Program Comparison Chart

September 2020
Case

Keeping It in the Family at the Hayden Saw Company

By: V.G. Narayanan and John Masko

In 2019, Board Chair and third-generation shareholder Helen Fullerton was preparing for a meeting to discuss Ohio-based Hayden Saw Company’s (Hayden) future as a family business. As the company entered its fifth decade, the Hayden family was dealing with three distinct... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Corporate Governance; Family Ownership; Business and Shareholder Relations; Family and Family Relationships; Governing and Advisory Boards; Construction Industry; Ohio; United States

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21 Jan 2015
News

Managing the Family Business: Market Basket’s Lessons About Buyouts

April 12, 2024
Editorial

A New Paradigm for Family Giving

By: Christina R. Wing

Keywords: Family Business; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Wealth

Citation

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December 1996
Case

Family Assistance Plan, The (A)

By: Bruce R. Scott and Paul Bastone

Keywords: Welfare or Wellbeing

Citation

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21 Jun 2016
News

Rescuing Families from ISIS-Led Genocide

In August, 2014, a horrific ISIS attack on Yazidi towns in Northern Iraq created a humanitarian crisis that Canadian executive Michel Aziza (MBA 1991) couldn’t ignore. “This is the latest chapter in a long history of persecution for the Yazidis,” explains Aziza, who... View Details

July 2024 (Revised March 2025)
Technical Note

Note on Working with Relatives in the Family Enterprise

By: Christina R. Wing and Hillary B Sieber

This note delves into the intricacies of working with relatives, offering insights and strategic recommendations for navigating the opportunities and complexities inherent in such environments. This note will cover common challenges, best practices and key governance... View Details

Keywords: Family and Family Relationships; Governance Controls; Family Business; Business or Company Management

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15 May 2015
News

Families Find the Principles That Keep the Business Going

August 1997 (Revised November 1997)
Background Note

Performance Evaluation of Family Members

By: John A. Davis

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03 Aug 2008
News

Wait to Work for Family

22 Aug 2016
Blog Post

Section Life: Your HBS Family

Before I arrived at HBS, I had heard a lot about sections and how they really impacted people’s experiences as students here. People who graduated decades earlier told me how they still stay in touch with their section mates and how grateful they were for the community... View Details

25 Jan 2024
Video

Partners and Families at HBS

September 2024
Supplement

Carrie Wang: Choosing Between the Family Firm and the Family Spirit: Spreadsheet Supplement

By: Lauren Cohen, Fei Wu and Sophia Pan

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23 Nov 2010
News

Resolve an Ownership Dispute in a Family Business

Nov 05 2018
Interview

Savvy Investing for the Family Office

04 Aug 2014
News

Market Basket Shows the Best and Worst of Family Business

Research Summary

Family, Inc. Historical Development of German and US Family Firm

Family-owned businesses are the most common form of business organization worldwide. This project deals with the main characteristics of closely-held ownership and more precisely families as majority owners. It strives for an international comparison of family firms... View Details