Research Insight

This type of article provides practical advice and takeaways based on previously published research articles in other journals. It is written in a journalistic, accessible style that is easily understood by non-academic audiences.


How Family Firms Can Identify and Preserve Their Legacy

Many family firms are not fully sure of their legacy and how to communicate it to others. Research suggests ways to get a better handle on it. Family businesses are the most prevalent type of Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Miruna Radu-Lefebvre , Jim Davis and William Gartner

Consumers Love Local Brands. That's Good News For Family Businesses

Being a family firm enhances a brand's local appeal and influences consumer purchasing behaviors. Consumer preferences are increasingly favoring brands with a strong local identity. The reasons for Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Philipp Jaufenthaler , Andreas Kallmuenzer , Sascha Kraus and Alfredo De Massis

Can Physics Help Us Understand Why Ventures Fail?

“Entrepreneurial entropy” is the natural result of pursuing innovation and opportunities. It can be deadly for struggling ventures that bet the house. Like uncombed hair and unweeded gardens, Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Author: Mat Hughes

Women Encourage Candor at Family Businesses

A conversation orientation in the family carries over to the business -- especially for women, who are increasingly becoming the family firm's "vocal heroes." Have you ever wondered if family Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Kristen Shanine and Kristen Madison

Employees With Toxic Traits Can Still Be An Asset at Family Firms

Family firms are strongly influenced by the behavior of family members in those organizations, thus toxic behavior is a major risk for the continuity and success of any family firm. A great deal of Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Benjamin McLarty and Daniel T. Holt

Family History Can Be Repurposed to Serve Today's Challenges

The stories that families tell about their past matter.  Here are some ways that families can begin to use the past to serve their present-day goals. Family firms often frame their history as a Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Christina Lubinski and William Gartner

Doing Good While Making Profits: How Social Ventures Stay Financially Afloat

While business models for traditional startups are well understood, there’s still a knowledge gap when it comes to social enterprises—those driven by social or environmental missions. Even though Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Lien De Cuyper and Bart Clarysse

Startups: Will Your Corporate VC Ditch You Too Soon?

While CVCs may provide capital now, they sometimes end their commitment abruptly, spooking your other investors.  It pays to research their track records. For many ventures, receiving outside Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Joseph Cabral , Shyam Kumar and Haemin Dennis Park

How Do Owners of Family Business Portfolios Restructure Poorly Performing Firms?

Families can get emotionally attached to laggards in their portfolios and avoid taking tough but necessary action, putting the entire enterprise in peril. When a family business portfolio includes Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Marina Palm , Vanessa Diaz Moriana and Nadine Kammerlander

Long Parental Leave Encourages Women to Start Businesses

Family-friendly policies encouraged women to think about what they really wanted for their careers. Work/life balance was not a factor. In Sweden, a growing number of mothers are starting a new Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Magdalena Markowska , Helene Ahl and Lucia Naldi