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Show Results For
-
All HBS Web
(4,549)
- People (13)
- News (1,582)
- Research (1,456)
- Events (6)
- Multimedia (58)
- Faculty Publications (880)
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- Teaching Interest
Families in Business
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
- Teaching Interest
Demystifying Family Businesses
This course is primarily designed for students who are pursuing a career in family run businesses, family owned businesses, investment roles in family offices, or students that might invest in or wholly purchase a family owned business through a private equity firm,... View Details
- January 2001
- Background Note
Responsibilities & Rights of Family Shareholders of a Family Business
By: John A. Davis
Describes the major responsibilities and rights of family shareholders of a family owned business.
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Davis, John A. "Responsibilities & Rights of Family Shareholders of a Family Business." Harvard Business School Background Note 801-264, January 2001.
- Article
Family Control of Firms and Industries
We test what explains family control of firms and industries and find that the explanation is largely contingent on the identity of families and individual blockholders. Founders and their families are more likely to retain control when doing so gives the firm a...
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Keywords:
Family Business;
Cost vs Benefits;
Governance Controls;
Family Ownership;
Business and Shareholder Relations;
Competitive Advantage
Villalonga, Belen, and Raphael Amit. "Family Control of Firms and Industries." Financial Management 39, no. 3 (Fall 2010): 863–904. (Lead article.)
- April 2002
- Case
The Cardon Family
By: William J. Poorvu and Melissa Yin-Yin Lam
Wil Cardon is the third-generation steward of his family's real estate land development business. He grapples with issues of business structure, intergenerational business, compensation, and family values. This case includes in-depth discussion of the land development...
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Keywords:
Business Ventures;
Family Business;
Entrepreneurship;
Values and Beliefs;
Compensation and Benefits;
Family and Family Relationships;
Real Estate Industry
Poorvu, William J., and Melissa Yin-Yin Lam. "The Cardon Family." Harvard Business School Case 802-196, April 2002.
- 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...
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Keywords:
Family Planning;
Platform;
Competitive Advantage;
Law;
Globalization;
Competitive Strategy;
Digital Platforms;
United States;
Ukraine
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.)
- November 2004 (Revised September 2007)
- Case
The Mitchell Family and Mitchells/Richards
By: Amy C. Edmondson, John A. Davis, Corey B. Hajim and Kelly Mulderry
Describes a small, luxury retail chain's operational sophistication achieved through the use of technology and "high-touch" customer service. A family-run business, Mitchells has built its success with a customer service strategy known internally as "hugging." The term...
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Keywords:
Family Business;
Customer Relationship Management;
Knowledge Management;
Service Delivery;
Organizational Culture;
Expansion;
Information Technology;
Retail Industry
Edmondson, Amy C., John A. Davis, Corey B. Hajim, and Kelly Mulderry. "The Mitchell Family and Mitchells/Richards." Harvard Business School Case 605-047, November 2004. (Revised September 2007.)
- December 2019 (Revised March 2021)
- Case
Carroll Family Farms
By: Forest Reinhardt, Christian Godwin and James Weber
The Carroll Family, U.S. pig and grain farmers, needed to decide what to plant, whether to purchase land, emphasize pigs or grain, or other investments.
Seven family members across three generations owned and operated Carroll Family Farms (CFF). In... View Details
Seven family members across three generations owned and operated Carroll Family Farms (CFF). In... View Details
Keywords:
Agribusiness;
Animal-Based Agribusiness;
Plant-Based Agribusiness;
Operations;
Strategy;
Family Business;
Asset Management;
Globalization;
Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry;
United States;
Brazil;
China
Reinhardt, Forest, Christian Godwin, and James Weber. "Carroll Family Farms." Harvard Business School Case 720-005, December 2019. (Revised March 2021.)
- November 2023 (Revised January 2024)
- Case
Votorantim: Uniting Family and Business Across Generations
By: Christina R. Wing, Carla Larangeira and Pedro Levindo
Over a 105-year span, the Ermírio de Moraes family built Votorantim, one of Latin America’s largest industrial conglomerates, and among Brazil’s topmost businesses, also credited for helping “build” the country over decades. By early 2023, Votorantim included...
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Keywords:
Corporate Governance;
Family Ownership;
Business and Shareholder Relations;
Family and Family Relationships;
Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry;
Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry;
Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry;
Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry;
Latin America
Wing, Christina R., Carla Larangeira, and Pedro Levindo. "Votorantim: Uniting Family and Business Across Generations." Harvard Business School Case 624-050, November 2023. (Revised January 2024.)
- 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.
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Davis, John A. "Preparing Family Business Cases." Harvard Business School Background Note 800-021, July 1999. (Revised July 2007.)
- January 15, 2015
- Article
Surviving in a Family Business When You're Not Part of the Family
By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer
Navigating office politics in a family-owned business can be challenging for non-family executives. Based on experience with various business families worldwide, this article offers strategies for success:
Play in your room: Non-family executives should... View Details
Play in your room: Non-family executives should... View Details
Keywords:
Family Business;
Family and Family Relationships;
Employees;
Problems and Challenges;
Talent and Talent Management
Baron, Josh, and Rob Lachenauer. "Surviving in a Family Business When You're Not Part of the Family." Harvard Business Review (website) (January 15, 2015).
- Article
Family Rituals Improve the Holidays
By: Ovul Sezer, Michael I. Norton, Francesca Gino and Kathleen Vohs
Rituals are central to family life. Three studies (N = 1098) tested the relationship between family rituals and holiday enjoyment and demonstrated that family rituals improve the holidays because they amplify family closeness and involvement in the experience. In Study...
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Sezer, Ovul, Michael I. Norton, Francesca Gino, and Kathleen Vohs. "Family Rituals Improve the Holidays." Special Issue on the Science of Hedonistic Consumption. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research 1, no. 4 (October 2016): 509–526.
- 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...
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- March 2007 (Revised October 2007)
- Module Note
Negotiating Effectively in Family Business Systems
By: Deepak Malhotra and John A. Davis
Explores how families in business can apply five principles of negotiation that are used effectively by non-family members. The distinctive characteristics of family relationships and of family business systems--which affect the use of these principles--are described.
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Malhotra, Deepak, and John A. Davis. "Negotiating Effectively in Family Business Systems." Harvard Business School Module Note 807-144, March 2007. (Revised October 2007.)
- October 1993
- Article
Family Capitalism
By: G. Jones and Mary B. Rose
Jones, G., and Mary B. Rose. "Family Capitalism." Business History 35, no. 4 (October 1993): 1–16.
- July 2001 (Revised September 2001)
- Background Note
Definitions and Typologies of the Family Business
By: John A. Davis
Introduces students to the wide variety of family business definitions in literature today. Also reviews prominent typologies of family business systems.
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Davis, John A. "Definitions and Typologies of the Family Business." Harvard Business School Background Note 802-007, July 2001. (Revised September 2001.)
- 12 Nov 2001
- Research & Ideas
The Three Components of Family Governance
strengthening business-family communication and bond. A family constitution—the family's policies and guiding vision and values that regulate...
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- August 2006 (Revised July 2007)
- Background Note
Governance of the Business Family
By: John A. Davis
Explains the purposes, processes, standards, plans, and agreements that together help to govern (or steer) a family that owns a family business.
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Keywords:
Family Business;
Corporate Governance;
Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms;
Family Ownership
Davis, John A. "Governance of the Business Family." Harvard Business School Background Note 807-020, August 2006. (Revised July 2007.)
- October 2023
- Technical Note
Governance for the Family Enterprise
By: Christina R. Wing and Vicki Morton
Governance stands as the backbone of any successful organization, providing the structure, transparency, and accountability necessary to guide decisions, ensure efficiency and foster sustainable growth. Its significance takes on a heightened dimension within family...
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- 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...
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Keywords:
Family Business;
Corporate Governance;
Governing and Advisory Boards;
Management Teams;
Mission and Purpose
Davis, John A. "Governance of the Family Business." Harvard Business School Background Note 807-022, August 2006. (Revised July 2007.)