Research Insight

This type of article provides practical advice and takeaways based on previously published research articles in other journals. It is written in a journalistic, accessible style that is easily understood by non-academic audiences.


Unforeseen Crisis Made These Family Businesses Stronger

Pandemics, wars, and natural disasters can have a significant impact on the economy and its organizations.  Such events are called “exogenous shocks” because they come without warning from Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Rebecca Alguera Kleine , Bingbing Ge and Alfredo De Massis

Does Social Spending Discourage Entrepreneurship?

The importance of entrepreneurship to the economy is well established. Entrepreneurship drives economic growth and helps to solve society’s intractable problems, from curing disease to lowering Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Eric Liguori , Matt Marvel , Shelby Solomon and Joshua Bendickson

Perceptions of Family Firms Vary by Country: Why This Matters

Firms that signal they are family-run are usually seen as better quality and enjoy higher levels of trust, except in places like India where they're everywhere. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Philipp Jaufenthaler , Oliver Koll , Reinhard Prügl and Maximilian Lude

When the Family Leaves the Business, Can Their Values Remain?

Researchers explored how the Cadbury family’s Quaker values, which prioritized honesty and fairness, have endured even after the confectioner was sold to Kraft. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Roy Suddaby , Wilson Ng , Natalia Vershinina , Gideon Markman and Matthew Cadbury

How to Build a Family Business Portfolio: Your Location Matters

While there are many routes to success, research shows that entrepreneurial business families should consider the possible impact of where they live on how they grow. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Philipp Sieger , Naveed Akhter and Francesco Chirico

Entrepreneurs Need an Agile Mindset and Agile Slack

In 2001, Zara (INDITEX) noticed that black t-shirts had disappeared from its store shelves after the Twin Towers attack and rushed to replenish them. How was Zara able to meet this unplanned demand? Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Author: Yoel Asseraf

Women Show Their Strengths When Family Businesses are in Trouble 

Around the world, women have always been part of family businesses. However, little is known about how they affect the continuity of family firms in certain areas of the world, especially patriarchal Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Allan Discua Cruz , Eleanor Hamilton , Giovanna Campopiano and Sarah Jack

How the Right Mix of Employee Incentives Fosters Innovation

Many people assume that when a family business honors its past, it can’t focus on the future. But our research has found that having the right incentives in place encourages employees at family Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Elisa Villani , Christian Linder , Alfredo De Massis and Kimberly Eddleston

When Can Fintech Do the Most Good?

Fintech is an increasingly important innovation for businesses across the world. Fintech broadly refers to technologies that enable banking and financial services. As fintech has the power to diffuse Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Arzi Adbi and Siddharth Natarajan

Will Your In-Laws Help or Hurt Your Family Business?

We’ve seen the remarkable impact of in-laws on famous family businesses, for better or worse. Examples include the infamous Gucci family feud between Maurizio Gucci and his wife Patrizia Reggiani, Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Marco Mismetti , Emanuela Rondi and Cristina Bettinelli