Publications

June 2017
Case

American Family Care

By: John Quelch and Leila Roumani

29 May 2015
News

In Popular Vote, Your Friends Usually Win

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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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

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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01 Jun 1998
News

Simmons Family Endows Professorship

adoptive parents was short: at the age of eight his mother died, and his father sent him to live with family friends in Salt Lake City. Elizabeth Ellison was born in Layton,... View Details

July 2005
Case

Family Governance at the Cousin Consortium Stage

By: John A. Davis and Courtney Sampson

Explains the governance system for the Eddy family, who own the Port Blakely Companies. Provides the viewer with an inside look at the running of the family council and family assembly meetings. Also provides a brief history and overview of the forestry and real estate... View Details

Keywords: Conferences; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Corporate Governance; Business History; Business or Company Management; Family Ownership

August 2011
Teaching Note

Friend Bank: The Time for Hope (TN)

By: Clayton Rose and Sally Canter Ganzfried

Teaching Note for 310-070. View Details

Keywords: Banks and Banking; Planning; Transformation; Business Offices; Financial Crisis; Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Goals and Objectives; Competitive Strategy; Opportunities; Banking Industry; Alabama

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

05 Jun 2017
News

How to Make Friends by Asking Questions

31 Jul 2017
News

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

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

12 PM – 1 PM EST, 17 Nov 2016
Webinars: Trending@HBS

Global Family Offices: Trends & Opportunities

Over the last few years, substantial growth in family offices (FOs) has resulted in their emergence as a significant investor class. There are an estimated 2,500 FOs globally, controlling $7+ trillion in assets; approximately 300 of these FOs manage over $5 billion... View Details

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

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 View Details

07 Nov 2019
News

The Future Of Education In Family Business Leadership And Tips To Get Started

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

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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