Managing the Family Business
Course code
EAI422
Course type
BSc Course
Weekly Hours
2,0
ECTS
3.0
Term
HS 2023
Language
Englisch
Lecturers
Prof. Dr. Peter May
Please note that exchange students obtain a higher number of credits in the BSc-program at WHU than listed here. For further information please contact directly the International Relations Office.
Course content
In particular, the course “Managing the Family Business” covers the following topics.
- Term definition, meaning and characteristics of family businesses
- Differences between family businesses and non-family businesses, especially in relation to goals, long-term orientation, structure, and resources
- Concepts and frameworks to work with family firms
- Strategic management of the business owning family and the family-owned business, in particular focus on topics related to: leadership, succession, and governance
- Transgenerational entrepreneurship: How can family firms remain entrepreneurial over time
Contact person: Barbara Wallrafen b.wallrafen@petermay-fbc.com
Class dates
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday, 04.09.2023 | 15:30 - 18:45 |
| Monday, 11.09.2023 | 15:30 - 18:45 |
| Monday, 18.09.2023 | 15:30 - 18:45 |
| Monday, 25.09.2023 | 15:30 - 18:45 |
| Monday, 09.10.2023 | 15:30 - 18:45 |
| Monday, 16.10.2023 | 15:30 - 18:45 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the need to balance short- and long-term decisions and to balance individual and collective needs within a society and its economy
- Be sensitive to transgenerational outcomes of short-term decisions
- Having a basic understanding of the specific challenges for family businesses, understanding the characteristics of family firms
- Learn about frameworks of how to lead or consult a family firm
- Learn about concrete examples of family firms and their challenges
- Learn about working with case studies
- Being able to engage in group work
- Being able to present and defend findings
Literature
The Owner Strategy in a Family Business Murmann Verlag, Hamburg 2017
Learningmethods
Lectures, presentations, assignments/case studies, group work, and guest talks
Exam
Final exam (100%)
Requirements
Courses semester 1-3