Family Business Review

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Nonfamily CEOs Are Most Vulnerable in the Middle Stage of Their Tenure

Family businesses tend to give all CEOs time to prove themselves, but are tougher on outsiders who don’t deliver results after a few years.  EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced in Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Wei Shen , Cecilia Gu and Lin-Hua Lu

How CSR Shapes the Power of Family Business Branding

Being family-owned or socially responsible endears a business to consumers. Having both attributes mutes the impact of family ownership, and requires a different branding strategy. EDITOR’S Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Philipp Jaufenthaler , Roland Schroll and Dhruv Grewal

How Family Firms Can Identify and Preserve Their Legacy

Many family firms are not fully sure of their legacy and how to communicate it to others. Research suggests ways to get a better handle on it. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced in Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Miruna Radu-Lefebvre , Jim Davis and William Gartner

Employees With Toxic Traits Can Still Be An Asset at Family Firms

The emotional connection that families have with their companies can encourage good performance -- even from employees with narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. EDITOR’S NOTE: This Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Benjamin McLarty and Daniel T. Holt

Family History Can Be Repurposed to Serve Today's Challenges

The stories that families tell about their past matter.  Here are some ways that families can begin to use the past to serve their present-day goals. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Christina Lubinski and William Gartner

How Do Owners of Family Business Portfolios Restructure Poorly Performing Firms?

Families can get emotionally attached to laggards in their portfolios and avoid taking tough but necessary action, putting the entire enterprise in peril. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Marina Palm , Vanessa Diaz Moriana and Nadine Kammerlander

Why Families and Their Firms Behave Badly

Sometimes the worst behavior happens for all the right reasons. Putting "family first" can jeopardize the business's health and longevity. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced in partnership Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Roland Kidwell , Kimberly Eddleston , Linda Kidwell , John Cater and Ellison Howard

A Family's Non-Financial Values Shape Its Sustainability Strategy

Families that focus on renewing their non-financial values in future generations are more likely to have a formal program. EDITOR'S NOTE:  This article was produced in partnership with Family Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Josh Hsueh , Alfredo De Massis and Luis Gomez-Mejia

Family Firms May Need More Legal Advice Than They Think

Families are often reluctant to anticipate and plan for the day when an unexpected transition might upend their business. The costs of inaction are high. EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was produced in Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Kajsa Haag , Hanna Almlöf , Marina Madsen and Mette Neville

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