Category: Research Insight

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

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

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