Category: Research Insight

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

The mission of EIX is to provide the soundest advice to help entrepreneurs, investors, and their companies improve their success rates. One important source of advice is based on research: rigorous Read more

Better Let Your Brother Do It: Men Are Still Preferred in CEO Successions

Many business owners do not like to think about succession – it means confronting their own mortality – but at some point, every family business must deal with succession planning (Ahrens, 2020). Read more

The venture capital industry has witnessed a surge in investments by micro venture capital (or “micro VC”) firms, which have emerged as a crucial player in the startup ecosystem. These are Read more

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 the Read more

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

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

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

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

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