Publications

winter 1990
Article

The Impact of Family Dynamics on Structure and Process in Family Foundations

By: J. A. Davis, K. Gersick and I. Lansberg

Keywords: Family Ownership; Management Practices and Processes

August 2006 (Revised July 2007)
Background Note

Fundamentals of Family Business System Governance

By: John A. Davis

Reviews the purposes and ingredients in the governance (or steering) of a family business system. Explores at a high level the governance of the family business, its owners, and the family. Focuses on how these governance structures, processes, plans, and agreements... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Corporate Governance; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Family Ownership

August 2007
Background Note

Assessing and Enhancing Individual Power in the Family Business System

By: John A. Davis

Describes how to asses and enhance an individual's bases, sources, and levels of power in a family business system. Relies on Franch and Raven's framework that identifies five bases of social power (reward, coercive, legitimate, referent, and expert), describing how... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Family and Family Relationships; Situation or Environment; Power and Influence

January–February 2021
Article

Build a Family Business That Lasts

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

Judging from how they’re portrayed in the media, it would be easy to dismiss family businesses as hotbeds of power-playing, backstabbing, and favor-currying, ultimately destined to fail; think of the Murdochs and News Corp, or the Redstones and National Amusements, to... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Success; Ownership Type; Governing and Advisory Boards; Management Succession

Register to Read

04 Apr 2012
Research & Ideas

When Founders Recruit Friends and Family as Investors

thoughtfully and purposefully. Every founder should read it—and take the time to digest its rich data and lessons." In this excerpt from Chapter 9, Wasserman discusses the advantages View Details

Keywords: by Noam Wasserman

October 1997
Background Note

Family Firms in the Newspaper Industry

Changes in newspaper publishing, specifically the introduction of new technology and concurrent changes in tax policy, which led to a consolidation of the industry are described. Also describes the transformation of family firms into public corporations in response to... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Family Business; Journalism and News Industry

July 2005 (Revised February 2007)
Background Note

Principles of Family Business System Change

By: John A. Davis

Identifies several practical principles to keep in mind when changing a family business system. View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Change Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation

09 Mar 2021
Cold Call Podcast

A Family Business at a Crossroads: Scaling and Succession

Keywords: Re: Christina R. Wing; Real Estate

1982
Book

The Influence of Life Stage on Father-Son Work Relationships in Family Companies

By: J. A. Davis

Keywords: Family and Family Relationships; Family Business

spring 1989
Article

The Influence of Life Stage on Father-Son Work Relationships in Family Companies

By: J. A. Davis and R. Tagiuri

Keywords: Family Business; Relationships

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

Register to Read

September 2024
Technical Note

Note on CEO Succession in Family Enterprises

By: Christina R. Wing, Kara A. Perusse and Hillary B. Sieber

This note aims to offer guidance and insights into navigating CEO succession, whether involving family or non-family executives, and emphasizes the importance of providing clarity on the criteria for selection. By understanding the nuances and best practices of CEO... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Transition; Management Succession

23 Apr 2001
Research & Ideas

The Gulf: It’s a Family Affair

professor and consultant. In these twenty-two-plus years in the field, in addition to the research and writing I have done, I have worked with families in business from over... View Details

Keywords: by Wendy Guild & Andrea Schulman

June 2017
Case

American Family Care

By: John Quelch and Leila Roumani

1 Aug 1972
Conference Presentation

Communes, The Family and Sex Roles

By: R. M. Kanter

Keywords: Civil Society or Community; Family and Family Relationships; Gender

September 26, 2022
Article

Is Your Family Office Built for the Future?

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

Family offices can provide a number of benefits, including privacy, customization, and having your own team to handle a wide range of services, such as guiding family philanthropy, managing shared properties, or even managing household help. Successful principals in... View Details

Keywords: Business Offices; Family and Family Relationships

Register to Read