Release | Family businesses and business families in cultural context: interdisciplinary updates for family business research

Abstract: This article shows that business family and family business research is dominated by reductionist and biased concepts of culture that are in sharp contrast with recent advances in anthropology and the broader social sciences that would allow for more fine-grained analyses. Through an inbound theorizing approach, state-of-the-art anthropological and sociological concepts of culture are […]

Release | Social systems theory and family business: A perspective article

Abstract: This perspective article highlights the significance of systems-theoretical approaches within family business research. Extant systems-theoretical literature in the field of family business research is reviewed to outline potential research gaps and avenues. The article highlights the fundamental differences between organisational decision communication and intimate family communication. At the same time, it shows that both […]

Release | Theory of the third: A cybernetic approach to escalative conflict dynamics in business families

Abstract: This conceptual paper explores the surprising impact exerted by third elements on the escalation and de-escalation of conflicts in business families. To this end, we draw on core concepts of Batesonian cybernetic theory to perform a reconceptualisation of pertinent literature on changing conflict dynamics gath- ered in family business research and consultancy. Based on […]

Release | Paradox and family business: A perspective article

Abstract: Purpose: This perspective article provides an overview of current research on paradoxes within family business settings and outlines emerging trends and potential avenues for future research in this field. Design/methodology/approach: This article is inspired by a systems-theoretical approach to business family paradoxes.Findings: The article suggests that increasing research interest in more-than and neither-nor approaches […]

Release | Within a mesh of expectations: Dealing with dilemmas in business families using systemic tools from family coaching

Abstract: Business family members face challenges related to exposure to diverse role expectations and systems logics, the management of which often results in sit- uations of high complexity, dilemmas, and paradoxes. To address these issues, in this paper we combine key insights from social systems theory with systemic family coaching tools such as “internal maps,” […]

CFA | Doktorandenstipendium „Digital transformierte Theorie des Familienunternehmens und der Unternehmerfamilie“

Die Universität Witten/Herdecke ist die erste deutsche Universität in gemeinnütziger Trägerschaft (Gründungsjahr: 1982) mit mittlerweile mehr als 600 Beschäftigten und über 2.600 Studierenden. Das Wittener Institut für Familienunternehmen (WIFU) ist Teil der Fakultät für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft und forscht an den Schnittstellen von Wirtschaft, Soziologie, Psychologie und Recht aus dem Blickwinkel von Unternehmen, die mehrheitlich […]

Release | The tetralemma of the business family

Kleve H., Roth S., Köllner T., and Wetzel R. (2020), The tetralemma of the business family. A systemic approach to business-family dilemmas in research and practice, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 433-446 [SSCI 1.185, Scopus, CNRS**, FNEGE**, CABS**]. The ahead-of-print version of this article is available for download here. Abstract: This […]