Publications

01 Oct 2009
News

Growing a Family Business

Time describes Benetton Group as "a case study in business management." Alessandro Benetton (MBA '91) guides a family business through a generational shift. View Details

Keywords: Alessandro Benetton, MBA '91; Management

July 2001 (Revised September 2001)
Background Note

Definitions and Typologies of the Family Business

By: John A. Davis

Introduces students to the wide variety of family business definitions in literature today. Also reviews prominent typologies of family business systems. View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Body of Literature; System

January 15, 2015
Article

Surviving in a Family Business When You're Not Part of the Family

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

Navigating office politics in a family-owned business can be challenging for non-family executives. Based on experience with various business families worldwide, this article offers strategies for success:

Play in your room: Non-family executives should... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Family and Family Relationships; Employees; Problems and Challenges; Talent and Talent Management

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Aug 06 2019
Testimonial

Emphasizing the Business in Family Business

06 Jan 2015
News

Helping a family business

HBS has given Ricardo Aguirre (MBA 2015) the ability to listen and learn from others, an asset he plans to take back to his family’s businesses in Venezuela. (Published January 2015) View Details

Video

Godrej - Family Business

September 8, 2015
Article

Making Better Decisions in Your Family Business

By: Josh Baron, Rob Lachenauer and Sebastian Ehrensberger

Family businesses face complex decisions, from CEO succession to business strategies. A "four-room" model helps structure decision-making in these businesses: Owner Room (ownership goals and board election), Board Room (performance monitoring and CEO appointment),... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Decisions; Business Strategy; Goals and Objectives; Management Succession; Talent and Talent Management

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24 Sep 2003 - 27 Sep 2003
Conference Presentation

Leadership in Family Business

By: J. A. Davis

Keywords: Leadership; Family Business

24 Nov 2015
Research & Ideas

Developing Your Next CEO for the Family Business

things get done in the company. But Family Insiders are not always the right choice. Family Insiders often have difficulty changing the business model. Significant change often... View Details

Keywords: Re: Andi Wang; Retail; Auto

13 Aug 2014
News

Family Businesses Need Entrepreneurs for Long-Run Success

June 2024
Case

PRAN-RFL Group: A Diversified Family Business

By: Christina R. Wing, Paul Wuensche and Brittany L. Logan

The PRAN-RFL Group was founded in 1980 by Amjad Khan Chowdhury, and grew to become one of the largest conglomerates in Bangladesh in 2023. Throughout the years, Amjad established fast food chains, production manufacturing lines, retail stores, and his own foundation... View Details

Keywords: Business Conglomerates; Family Business; Management Succession; Family Ownership; Retirement; Bangladesh

08 Jun 2015
News

Leading a family business

After Phyllis Papani Godwin (HRPBA 1949) inherited the family electrical supply business, she quickly learned the ropes, developed a collaborative leadership style, and expanded the company into 28 locations. (Published June 2015) View Details

June 2005 (Revised June 2007)
Background Note

Introduction to Management of the Family Business

By: John A. Davis

Provides an overview to the content and structure of the Management of the Family Business course. View Details

Keywords: Family Ownership; Business or Company Management

Find at Harvard

Video

Chetti - Family Business

Video

Bajaj - Family Business

October 2019
Case

China Merchants Bank: Ushering in the Era of Family Office in China

By: Lauren Cohen, Hao Gao, Billy Chan and Dawn H. Lau

China Merchants Bank, the sixth-largest lender in China, intends to boost its family office business as a result of an increase in the population of ultra-high net worth individuals. Already ranked China’s number-one private bank with AUM exceeding US$300 billion, the... View Details

Keywords: Family Office; Strategy; Banks and Banking; Organizational Design; Competitive Strategy; Banking Industry; China

October 2005 (Revised February 2007)
Background Note

Negotiating Your Entry into Your Family Business

By: John A. Davis

Provides guidance to junior generation members of a business family concerning negotiating their entry into their family's business. View Details

Keywords: Family Business

September 2011 (Revised November 2011)
Case

CP Group: Balancing the Needs of a Family Business with the Needs of a Family of Businesses

By: William C. Kirby and Tracy Yuen Manty

As a second generation business leader, Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont took over the family agribusiness company and built it to become a major diversified conglomerate in Thailand and expanded the business in SE Asia and China. While growing the business, he and his... View Details

Keywords: Agribusiness; Plant-Based Agribusiness; Family Business; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Conglomerates; Family Ownership; Growth and Development; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Thailand; China; Southeast Asia

December 2001 (Revised March 2003)
Case

Ben Fiorentino: Selling the Family Business

The caseescribes the challenges Ben Fiorentino, the second-generation head of a family-run equipment business, must deal with as he decides whether and how to sell the business. The business is encountering classic problems that confront family-owned firms: The third... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Negotiation; Business Exit or Shutdown; Management Teams; Agency Theory