Publications

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

04 Sep 2015
Blog Post

4 Tips for MBA Students with Families

parent at HBS. We recently connected with Debbie Nichols and Aubrey Chavez – members of the HBS Crimson Parents Club – to learn more. Here’s a round-up of what they thought parents should know about HBS. 1. Don’t worry about being isolated: View Details

November 2004 (Revised September 2007)
Case

The Mitchell Family and Mitchells/Richards

By: Amy C. Edmondson, John A. Davis, Corey B. Hajim and Kelly Mulderry

Describes a small, luxury retail chain's operational sophistication achieved through the use of technology and "high-touch" customer service. A family-run business, Mitchells has built its success with a customer service strategy known internally as "hugging." The term... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Customer Relationship Management; Knowledge Management; Service Delivery; Organizational Culture; Expansion; Information Technology; Retail Industry

February 1997 (Revised November 1997)
Case

An Entrepreneurial Family

Mark Vigianno is a driven entrepreneur who can't seem to work with subcontractors, many colleagues, and bosses. His wife Katrina gets caught up in Mark's ventures but seems unable to help him. Although ambitious, hard driving, and quality conscious, Mark keeps... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship

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12 Mar 2014
Lessons from the Classroom

Managing the Family Business: Firing the CEO

Editor's note: This is part of a series of occasional columns on managing the family business written by Senior Lecturer John A. Davis. In this article, Davis discusses when to make changes at the top. No one needs convincing that the... View Details

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

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30 Mar 2015
Research & Ideas

Managing the Family Business: Preparing to Sell

On important occasions, we gather for family portraits. If you were to take a picture of your family business today, what would it show? Family businesses represent the... View Details

Keywords: by Jonathan Pellegrin; Food & Beverage; Retail

31 Jul 2017
News

It’s Hard to Fix the Family Business Without Offending the Family

01 Jun 1998
News

Simmons Family Endows Professorship

and make time for family life, believe in hard work, and support their communities. The family recently established a fund to create the Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professorship of Business Administration at... View Details

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

14 Jul 2021
News

How Technology Is Re-Shaping Our Families

15 Jan 2014
Research & Ideas

Managing the Family Business: It Takes a Village

Editor's note: This is the first of occasional columns on managing the family business written by Senior Lecturer John A. Davis. In this first of two articles, Davis discusses leadership models. Part One: Global Norms And The One-leader... View Details

24 Nov 2015
Research & Ideas

Developing Your Next CEO for the Family Business

as CEO. I agree but CEO selection is more complex for family companies. Options for Family Companies In family companies, you also have the choice of View Details

Keywords: Retail; Auto

December 6, 2013
Article

Family Businesses Shouldn't Hunt for Superstar CEOs

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

This article discusses the challenges faced by family businesses when it comes to succession planning, particularly in selecting an outside CEO. It presents a case study of a third-generation family business looking for an external CEO, named "Mr. Wonderful," to manage... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Management Succession

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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

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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August 2006 (Revised July 2007)
Background Note

Governance of the Family Business Owners

By: John A. Davis

Reviews the principal ways in which the owners of a family business achieve their governance objectives of a suitable identity and sensible direction and the discipline to achieve these. Covers the responsibilities and rights of owners, plus governance procedures,... View Details

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