• Teaching Interest

Families in Business

By: Christina R. Wing

Like every company, family businesses must strive for growth amidst fierce competition, an evolving marketplace, and demanding customers. But family businesses also face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. In this Executive Education program, participants... View Details

• August 2019 (Revised July 2023)
• Course Overview Note

Demystifying the Family Enterprise

By: Christina R. Wing and Madeline Keulen

90% of the GDP in the world is created through family-owned businesses. Family businesses are frequently thought to be exclusively mom-and-pop, small businesses. Most fail to realize that Walmart, Fidelity, Cargill, Koch Industries, and Ford, to name a few, are all... View Details

Keywords: Family Office; Family Business; Family Ownership

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Wing, Christina R., and Madeline Keulen. "Demystifying the Family Enterprise." Harvard Business School Course Overview Note 620-030, August 2019. (Revised July 2023.)

• Research Summary

Family Business Governance

Davis's other current work explores family, business, and ownership governance in the family business system. A book on this topic is in process. Included in this body of work is a large-scale survey project on corporate governance of Brazilian family companies and... View Details

• Clubs

Family Business Club

• July 1999 (Revised July 2007)
• Background Note

Preparing Family Business Cases

By: John A. Davis

Advises students on how to prepare and discuss a family business case. View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Business Education; Cases; Family Ownership; Research

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Davis, John A. "Preparing Family Business Cases." Harvard Business School Background Note 800-021, July 1999. (Revised July 2007.)

• July 2007 (Revised September 2007)
• Background Note

Compensating Family Employees in a Family Business

By: John A. Davis

Explores the core issues involved in compensating family employees in a family business. Explains family interests and other factors that shape family employee compensation practices. Distinguishes between achieving effective compensation practices, which help to... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Employees; Compensation and Benefits

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Davis, John A. "Compensating Family Employees in a Family Business." Harvard Business School Background Note 808-021, July 2007. (Revised September 2007.)

• Program

Families in Business

Summary Family enterprises must strive for growth amidst fierce competition, an evolving marketplace, and demanding customers. But family enterprises also face a unique set of challenges and opportunities.... View Details

• August 2019 (Revised March 2022)
• Case

Family Matters: Governance at the Zamil Group

By: Christina R. Wing, Suraj Srinivasan and Esel Çekin

This case focuses on a large Saudi Arabian industrial conglomerate and family business Zamil Group’s corporate and family governance journey. The 12 sons of the founder led and grew the group successfully after taking over from their father in 1961. The secret to their... View Details

Keywords: Middle East; Family Ownership; Family-owned Business; Saudi Arabia; Family Business; Governance; Organizational Structure; Values and Beliefs; Steel Industry; Industrial Products Industry; Middle East; Saudi Arabia; Bahrain

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Wing, Christina R., Suraj Srinivasan, and Esel Çekin. "Family Matters: Governance at the Zamil Group." Harvard Business School Case 620-009, August 2019. (Revised March 2022.)

• Research Summary

Family Business Dynastic Success

Davis is also completing a several year study of successful family business dynasties, examining the management, ownership and family practices that help to perpetuate successful businesses and families. He is developing a book for Harvard University Press on this... View Details

• September 2024
• Technical Note

How to Pay Family Employees in a Family Business

By: Christina R. Wing, Maryann G Bell and Kara A Perusse

Family businesses play a pivotal role in global economies, contributing significantly to employment and wealth creation. However, managing compensation for family members within these enterprises can be complex. Family employees frequently intertwine their roles as... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Fairness; Compensation and Benefits; Alignment

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Wing, Christina R., Maryann G Bell, and Kara A Perusse. "How to Pay Family Employees in a Family Business." Harvard Business School Technical Note 625-032, September 2024.

• 18 Apr 2016
• Blog Post

Meet the HBS Family Business Club

The mission of the Family Business Club (FBC) is to bring together students with family business backgrounds to facilitate discussions and... View Details

• August 2006 (Revised July 2007)
• Background Note

Governance of the Family Business

By: John A. Davis

Reviews the ways to achieve governance of the family business. Points out the importance of plans (e.g., strategic plans), statements (e.g., mission statements), policies, rules, and agreements to the governance process. Discusses the roles of three structures in... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Management Teams; Mission and Purpose

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Davis, John A. "Governance of the Family Business." Harvard Business School Background Note 807-022, August 2006. (Revised July 2007.)

• February 2004 (Revised April 2004)
• Exercise

Family Business Ownership Goals Worksheet

By: John A. Davis

Family members who either own a business or who could inherit ownership in a business are helped to clarify how they would like to have the business owned in the future. View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Family Ownership; Decision Making

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Davis, John A. "Family Business Ownership Goals Worksheet." Harvard Business School Exercise 804-145, February 2004. (Revised April 2004.)

• August 2013 (Revised October 2013)
• Case

Modern Family Planning: The Business of Circle Surrogacy

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Blake Landro

The business of surrogacy, a boutique practice with client costs upwards of $100,000, allowed couples and individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and sexual orientations to build families. This case examines Circle Surrogacy (CS), one of the premier surrogacy... View Details

Keywords: Family Planning; Platform; Competitive Advantage; Law; Globalization; Competitive Strategy; Digital Platforms; United States; Ukraine

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Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon, and Blake Landro. "Modern Family Planning: The Business of Circle Surrogacy." Harvard Business School Case 714-418, August 2013. (Revised October 2013.)