Publications

Educators

May 18, 2020
Article

Create a Culture of Generosity and Communication in Your Family Business

By: Christina R. Wing and Rohit K. Gera

The phrase “family business” is made up of two very different words: “family,” which calls to mind warm, fuzzy feelings around love, joy, and support, and “business,” which is measured in money, profits, impact, and assets. We put the two words together, and often, use... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Organizational Culture; Communication

06 Aug 2012
News

Family Offices Seeing Fastest Growth as Firms Oust Banks

July 9, 2013
Article

Why Fights Erupt in Family Businesses

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

Lack of boundaries and formal structure create potential for nasty (and lasting) disagreements. View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Conflict and Resolution; Organizational Structure

September 12, 2022
Article

Merit or Inherit: How to Approach Succession in a Family Business

By: Josh Baron

One of the most critical questions facing family businesses is how to treat the next generation. They are clearly different from other employees, as current or potential owners of the company, whose wealth and reputation are on the line. On the flip side, most parents... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Family and Family Relationships; Management Succession

01 Jun 2004
News

Greenhill Family Gift Enhances Global Research

four continents. In recognition of the School’s leadership role, Gayle and Robert F. Greenhill (MBA ’62) have donated $15 million to establish the Greenhill Family Endowment for Global Research to support a broad range of international... View Details

Keywords: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

19 Nov 2014
News

Helping family businesses succeed and thrive

For more than 25 years, Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien (MBA 1954) and his family foundation have been enabling others learn how to manage successful family-run businesses. (Published November 2014) View Details

November 2024
Technical Note

Is a Single-Family Office Right for You?

By: Christina R. Wing, George Jackoboice and Justin Huang

Twenty years ago, the term “family office” was used infrequently and often reserved for the most storied families such as the Rockefellers or the Kennedys. Now, “family office” is on the tip of the tongue of every investor, wealth manager, and company. However, the... View Details

Keywords: Family Office; Family Business

Educators

28 May 2019
News

In My Humble Opinion: Family Dynamic

As CEO of Indonesia’s Sintesa Group, Shinta Widjaja Kamdani (OPM 31, 2002) is the third generation of her family to lead the highly diversified holding company that began as a rubber plantation in 1919. Kamdani had been at the company for... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Offices of Other Holding Companies; Management

winter 1988
Article

Family Business Continuity from the Corporate Side

By: J. A. Davis

Keywords: Family Business

Find at Harvard

05 Aug 2014
News

The Market Basket Family Feud Continues

Video

Nuqul Video Clip - Family Business

01 Jan 2022
News

Family Ghosts in the Executive Suite

2009
Chapter

On the Goals of Successful Family Companies

By: John A. Davis and Renato Tagiuri

Providing clear goals for a company and communicating them are among the most powerful means for guiding the behavior of the people in an organization. In this article, we explore the range of objectives or goals of family-owned and -managed companies and identify... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Interpersonal Communication; Goals and Objectives; Organizational Culture; Family Ownership

19 Oct 2018
Blog Post

Moving to the U.S. With a Family

move to Boston and build strong relationships with our new friends. Setting up our house and making a home on campus Moving with a family can be challenging in any circumstance if you do it on your own, but we were fortunate enough to... View Details

Web

Leading a Family Business - Course Catalog

HBS Course Catalog Leading a Family Business Course Number 1895 Senior Lecturer Josh Baron Spring; Q4; 1.5 credits Overview: Family businesses dominate the economies of most countries. According to research... View Details

22 Oct 2011
Conference Presentation

Principles and Practices of Long-Term Family Success

By: John A. Davis

Keywords: Family and Family Relationships; Success

December 3, 2014
Article

Family Businesses Need One Person to Conquer and Another One to Rule

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

This article explores the different leadership styles needed in family businesses beyond the traditional "conqueror" archetype. While conquerors are growth-focused and hands-on, rulers are essential for managing complexity, focusing on governance, and addressing family... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Style; Family Business; Management Skills

August 19, 2013
Article

Coddled Relatives Can Kill a Family Business

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

Keywords: Family Business