In recent years, succession has become a major theme in family business research. Much of the research effort has concentrated on the managerial dimension of succession, often subordinating the importance of other major variables such as family relationship dynamics and the form of business ownership on the succession outcome. Family enterprises are generally conceptualised as a dynamic, evolving systems in which the actions and interactions taking place amongst constituent groups determine the system's outputs. This study aimed to overcome the limitations of examining only one dimension of a system's activities by carrying out a longitudinal holistic analysis of the evolution of the family enterprise system as it went through the process of generational transition. The research for this thesis employed the multiple case study method to investigate the influence of emotional and developmental factors on the ability of business-owning families to make progress with the tasks required to complete a generational transition. Three specific issues were examined: the nature of the task environment facing the family enterprise system over the duration of the transition period; the approaches used by families to address the tasks required for them to move through the stages making up the transition process; and the extent to which emotional and developmental factors prevented or promoted progress being made with the generational transition. The results reveal that families face the same sequence of stages in the generational transition process. However, they differ in their ability to move through these stages, towards closure of the transition period and the achievement of a succession outcome, Importantly, the degree to which individuals and families are able to make progress is related to their ability to manage the anxiety generated during the transition process. Anxiety is created when the structures or network of interrelationships that hold their family enterprise system intact are evaluated and may be dismantled and reconstructed differently for the next stage in the system's development. The study supports the view that anxiety is generated during transition times when developmental pressures for change build up from changes taking place in the life-cycles underway within the family enterprise system. It also supports the view that developmental pressure (such as a crisis) from the business subsystem alone does not lead to transition task activity and progress. Progress in response to business sub-system pressure comes about when the opportunity exists to solve an ongoing adult development problem by implementing a solution to a transition task problem. The ability to manage anxiety was found to be related to both the quality of emotional functioning in the family and the extent to which the adult development agendas of both generations are in alignment. Favourable alignment brought a developmental opportunity for the individuals concerned. It allowed them to do the exploratory work required in order to assess the extent to which the family business could provide part of their life structure for the next phase of their development. However, in addition to adult development generational alignment, the study confirmed that the quality of emotional functioning in the family (their ability to overcome multigenerational patterns of functioning and behaviour) influenced the family's ability to make progress with ownership transfer and other tasks. The study concludes that emotional and developmental influences are mediating factors between the forces for change originating in the family enterprise system and its environment and the ability of those in the system to respond to the need for change and manage the transition process. It also found that families significantly underestimate the nature and complexity of the work involved in the transition process, as well as the timescale and emotional commitment required to complete the transition.

Questions about the role of the "informal sector" color much of the discussion of urban economic development in poor countries. Why is there an informal sector (and how to define it)? Are informal businesses stagnant or dynamic, and can they contribute to development? In the small Bolivian city of Sucre, site of this study, there is no "informal sector"; rather, the entire economy demonstrates informal characteristics. With a handful of exceptions, businesses are all very small and household centered. Most manufacturing is done by hand or with simple machines, and informal labor and trade relationships predominate. This thesis describes Sucre's producers, especially chocolate-makers and carpenters, and the local organizations which work with them to promote business growth. Despite attempts by local NGOs, grassroots organizations, and business people, Sucre' businesses stay, small and informal. The reasons for this include: (A) the size and composition of the local market; (B) the problems of trust and contract enforcement which raise transaction costs (for hiring workers, contracting distributors and forming partnerships); (C) the inability to "catch up" with more efficient, mechanized competitors in neighboring countries; and (D) a tendency for households to diversify their investments as a response to risk and uncertain markets. The main problem impeding business growth in Sucre is not the businesses' informality (which is principally a result of their smallness), but the local social, economic and institutional environment in which they must work. This is an environment in which business owners have learned to survive and even, occasionally, prosper, but one which they have thus far been unable to change.

This work focuses on the special problems in the context of drafting the corporate charter and bylaws for American corporations the stocks of which are mainly owned by the members of one family. Although the ownership structure would also allow a partnership organization, there can be good reasons for choosing the corporate structure. Nevertheless, the family owners will want to preserve a partnership-like structure and a maximum amount of ownership influence. However, the three-tiered structure of the corporation (board of directors, officers, and shareholders) and their individual functions are fixed by a "statutory model" that the courts tend to adhere to and that has often been written into positive corporate statutes. / Hence, for each organizational level, this work tries to fathom the permissible deviations from the statutory model in order to maintain and exercise family influence. / Furthermore, the special legal forms provided by the legislators (especially "close corporation status") will be considered. / Because American corporate law is within the province of the state legislators, the work takes a comparative approach. Guided by the criteria of practical applicability and comparative interest, the Model Business Corporation Act as well as the state laws of Delaware, New York, California, and Nevada were selected.

Familiness has become widely accepted as the appropriate construct representing the unique bundle of resources arising out of family involvement in business. However as yet we do not fully understand the types of familiness or the conditions that give rise to them and as such familiness remains in need of further exploration. This research explores the familiness construct and its role in perpetuating entrepreneurial activity in the family business through the development and deployment of an entrepreneurial orientation (EO) over multiple generations. The Resource-Based View (RBV) is the adopted firm level framework used to identify the unique bundle of family resources that represent familiness. These resources are then explored for their contribution to nurturing and perpetuating an EO, thereby creating a source of competitive advantage. The research also explores the association of EO to the achievement of the firm’s nonfinancial objectives. Using exploratory in-depth qualitative case studies of four multigenerational Australian family firms, data was collected via semi-structured interviews, observations, and secondary documents. NVivo assisted with the coding and analysis of data to identify common patterns and themes from both within-case and across-case analyses.Six resource dimensions were found to represent the familiness resource bundle: reputation, experience – insights and skills, learning, decision-making, relationships, and networks. These resource dimensions, identified by their prevalence across all four cases, are spread across the resource categories (human, organizational, and process) and thus confirm the widespread potential of the family’s influence in business. The resource dimensions displayed a paradoxical nature and the ability to manage these paradoxes enabled these firms to exploit their familiness advantages (f+) and simultaneously mitigate the disadvantages (f-). Managing the paradoxical nature was central to the multigenerational success of these firms. Three of the six dimensions (experience – insights and skills, decision-making, and networks) were instrumental in influencing the development of the firm’s EO while three other dimensions (reputation, learning, and relationships) were more closely aligned with a market, learning, and communication orientation. The findings also suggest that family firms are better able to address non-financial objectives when they have strong EOs that engaged them in entrepreneurial activities. All interpretations of the findings are integrated into a conceptual model for future empirical analysis.The study contributes to research by identifying six dimensions (familiness resources model) that constitute the familiness resource bundle and through which family influence is most prevalent and best examined within the business. The study suggests that the paradoxical nature of these dimensions highlights conditions that give rise to familiness advantages (f+) or disadvantages (f-) and that managing these paradoxes gives rise to sustained competitive advantage. The study also proposes that the family is most influential in driving the firm’s EO: by being exposed to internal and external experiences that heighten their ability for opportunity recognition; by balancing the process (informal or formal), speed (fast or slow), and forum (concentrated or collaborative) of decisions; and by integrating and exploiting the firm’s strong and weak network ties. Finally the study confirms a close association between a firm’s EO and its non-financial objectives. The study thus encourages family firms to pursue entrepreneurial activity, not only because it sustains their livelihood over generations, but because it also assists in meeting the family’s non-financial objectives.

Familiness has become widely accepted as the appropriate construct representing the unique bundle of resources arising out of family involvement in business. However as yet we do not fully understand the types of familiness or the conditions that give rise to them and as such familiness remains in need of further exploration. This research explores the familiness construct and its role in perpetuating entrepreneurial activity in the family business through the development and deployment of an entrepreneurial orientation (EO) over multiple generations. The Resource-Based View (RBV) is the adopted firm level framework used to identify the unique bundle of family resources that represent familiness. These resources are then explored for their contribution to nurturing and perpetuating an EO, thereby creating a source of competitive advantage. The research also explores the association of EO to the achievement of the firm’s nonfinancial objectives. Using exploratory in-depth qualitative case studies of four multigenerational Australian family firms, data was collected via semi-structured interviews, observations, and secondary documents. NVivo assisted with the coding and analysis of data to identify common patterns and themes from both within-case and across-case analyses.Six resource dimensions were found to represent the familiness resource bundle: reputation, experience – insights and skills, learning, decision-making, relationships, and networks. These resource dimensions, identified by their prevalence across all four cases, are spread across the resource categories (human, organizational, and process) and thus confirm the widespread potential of the family’s influence in business. The resource dimensions displayed a paradoxical nature and the ability to manage these paradoxes enabled these firms to exploit their familiness advantages (f+) and simultaneously mitigate the disadvantages (f-). Managing the paradoxical nature was central to the multigenerational success of these firms. Three of the six dimensions (experience – insights and skills, decision-making, and networks) were instrumental in influencing the development of the firm’s EO while three other dimensions (reputation, learning, and relationships) were more closely aligned with a market, learning, and communication orientation. The findings also suggest that family firms are better able to address non-financial objectives when they have strong EOs that engaged them in entrepreneurial activities. All interpretations of the findings are integrated into a conceptual model for future empirical analysis.The study contributes to research by identifying six dimensions (familiness resources model) that constitute the familiness resource bundle and through which family influence is most prevalent and best examined within the business. The study suggests that the paradoxical nature of these dimensions highlights conditions that give rise to familiness advantages (f+) or disadvantages (f-) and that managing these paradoxes gives rise to sustained competitive advantage. The study also proposes that the family is most influential in driving the firm’s EO: by being exposed to internal and external experiences that heighten their ability for opportunity recognition; by balancing the process (informal or formal), speed (fast or slow), and forum (concentrated or collaborative) of decisions; and by integrating and exploiting the firm’s strong and weak network ties. Finally the study confirms a close association between a firm’s EO and its non-financial objectives. The study thus encourages family firms to pursue entrepreneurial activity, not only because it sustains their livelihood over generations, but because it also assists in meeting the family’s non-financial objectives.

Mémoire (M.P.M.O.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1990. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Following the growing emphasis on the monitoring role of independent directors in the board of directors in the stock exchanges of Western developed countries, companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are required to appoint independent non-executive directors (INEDs) representing at least one-third of their boards under the Listing Rules. Unlike those Western developed capital markets where listed companies are widely held, most listed companies in Hong Kong are controlled and managed by families. This means realistically, INEDs of those family-controlled listed companies can only be appointed to the boards with the support from the controlling owners. Under such circumstances, the INEDs' ability to monitor the performance of the management of those companies independently is put in doubt. This thesis intends to conduct a qualitative study using phenomenological approach to explore and understand the role and effectiveness of INEDs in family-controlled listed companies in Hong Kong based on the INEDs' lived experiences. The study is the first of its kind in the Hong Kong corporate governance research arena, as research studies on corporate boards and directors have often adopted a quantitative approach, using only publicly available archival data without in-depth discussions with the subjects on their real experience and views on their jobs. Accordingly, issues related to directors in family-controlled listed companies that require in-depth discussions with these directors are impossible to be addressed by such research approach. Through semi-structured interviews with INEDs of companies listed in Hong Kong, this thesis has contributed to the existing knowledge and literature in the research on INEDs and corporate governance in family businesses and provide useful hints and ideas to practitioners, listed companies, investors, regulators and policy-makers.

A troca de comando é um desafio para as empresas familiares que buscam a sobrevivência da empresa em longo prazo. O processo de sucessão é também o período de convivência entre predecessores e sucessores para o compartilhamento de conhecimento a fim de garantir que conhecimentos valiosos sobre o negócio se mantenham na organização, para que assim a troca do comando não afete o desempenho e eficiência da empresa. Dada a relevância do conhecimento no processo de sucessão de empresas familiares, destaca-se atividade de exploração de conhecimento, realizadas individualmente, mas também no compartilhamento de conhecimento entre predecessores e sucessores. A exploração de conhecimento pode acontecer por meio das atividades de exploitation, quando refere-se aos novos usos e combinações do conhecimento existente para atingir as metas de curto prazo, ou por meio das atividades de exploration, quando refere-se à busca por novos conhecimentos, desconhecidos e muitas vezes incertos. Por isso, as atividades de exploração de conhecimento se relacionam às características individuais na relação com demais membros da família, na rotina da organização. Fatores referentes à motivação e ao envolvimento do indivíduo com o negócio familiar podem ter influência em como tais atividades são realizadas na organização. Neste aspecto, estudos apontam as bases do comprometimento dos membros envolvidos no processo de sucessão como um aspecto crítico na sucessão. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar a relação entre o comprometimento e as atividades de exploration e exploitation de conhecimento dos sujeitos envolvidos no processo de sucessão de empresas familiares. A abordagem adotada para a pesquisa foi a de métodos mistos com estratégia sequencial explanatória, sendo que incialmente coletou-se a analisou-se dados quantitativos. A partir dos achados quantitativos procedeu-se a segunda fase da pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa com o objetivo de aprofundar os resultados da pesquisa quantitativa. A pesquisa foi aplicada na Federação das Câmaras de Dirigentes Lojistas do Rio Grande do Sul (FCDL-RS) considerando empresas familiares do Rio Grande do Sul envolvidas em processos sucessórios. Participaram da etapa quantitativa 303 associados e 10 associados participaram da etapa qualitativa. Os resultados indicaram que no nível individual de análise os respondentes realizam de forma ambidestra, ambas as atividades, exploration e exploitation. Já no nível do compartilhamento de conhecimento entre sucessores e predecessores, a ambidestria não foi identificada. Ao relacionar as atividades de exploration e exploitation de conhecimento individuais e no compartilhamento com o comprometimento, identificou-se relações positivas e negativas. A relação positiva foi percebida entre o comprometimento afetivo na dimensão referente à lealdade dos indivíduos ao negocio da família e as atividades de exploitation no compartilhamento e combinação de conhecimentos. Por outro lado, foram identificadas relações negativas entre o comprometimento de continuidade e afetivo, na dimensão referente ao desejo em permanecer na empresa e as atividades de exploration no compartilhamento para a criação de novos conhecimentos. O resultado da pesquisa indica que, ao discutir as atividades de exploration, exploitation e ambidestria de conhecimento o nível de análise e o contexto da pesquisa podem influenciar nos resultados do estudo. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2016-12-02T13:24:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Fernanda Pauletto D'Arrigo.pdf: 520303 bytes, checksum: b46d638330a016715884ef6aabc82d73 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-02T13:24:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Fernanda Pauletto D'Arrigo.pdf: 520303 bytes, checksum: b46d638330a016715884ef6aabc82d73 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-02 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, FAPERGS. / The change of command is a challenge for family businesses looking for of the business longterm survival. The succession process is a period of coexistence between predecessors and successors for knowledge sharing between generations to ensure that, the valuable knowledge about the business remains in the organization, therefore that the change of command does not affect the performance and efficiency of company. Given the importance of knowledge in the succession process of family businesses, we highlight knowledge exploration and exploitation activities, carried out individually, but also in the sharing of knowledge between predecessors and successors. Knowledge strategies can be perceived through the exploitation activities - relates to new uses and combinations of existing knowledge to achieve short-term goals, or by means of exploration activities - the search for new knowledge, unknown and often uncertain. Therefore, knowledge exploration ans exploitation activities may be related to individual characteristics and with the relationship with other family members in the routine of the organization. Thus, it allows considering the motivations and involvement of the individual with the family business may have an impact on how such activities are carried out in the organization. In this regard, previous studies indicate that the commitment bases of the members involved in the succession process, thus defining the commitment as a critical aspect of succession. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between the commitment and the activities of exploration and exploitation of knowledge of the individuals involved in the process of succession of family businesses. To reach the aim, was carried out a mixed methods approach with an explanatory sequential strategy, and initially collected to be analyzed quantitative data. From the quantitative findings we preceded to the second phase of research, with a qualitative approach that aimed to in depth the results of the quantitative research. The survey was conducted in FCDL-RS considering family businesses of Rio Grande do Sul – Southern Brazil, involved in succession processes. The final results considered 303 respondents participated in the quantitative step and 10 interviewers in the qualitative step. The main contribution of the study is the knowledge exploration and exploitation activities in the individual and the sharing between predecessors and successors, and beyond the commitment relating to these members. The results indicated that, in regard to the individual dimension of analysis, the respondents perform ambidextrous way, both activities. However, in the knowledge sharing dimension, ambidexterity was not identified. Relating the knowledge exploration and exploitation activities in the individual and sharing level with the commitment, the results identified positive and negative relationships. A positive relationship was perceived between affective commitment regarding to the loyalty dimension and exploitation activities for knowledge sharing and combination. On the other hand, negative relationships between the commitment of continuity and affective - regarding the desire to stay in business - and exploration activities on the share to the creation of new knowledge. The result of research indicates that, when discussing the activities of exploration, exploitation and ambidexterity knowledge of the level of analysis and the search context can influence the results of the study

A troca de comando é um desafio para as empresas familiares que buscam a sobrevivência da empresa em longo prazo. O processo de sucessão é também o período de convivência entre predecessores e sucessores para o compartilhamento de conhecimento a fim de garantir que conhecimentos valiosos sobre o negócio se mantenham na organização, para que assim a troca do comando não afete o desempenho e eficiência da empresa. Dada a relevância do conhecimento no processo de sucessão de empresas familiares, destaca-se atividade de exploração de conhecimento, realizadas individualmente, mas também no compartilhamento de conhecimento entre predecessores e sucessores. A exploração de conhecimento pode acontecer por meio das atividades de exploitation, quando refere-se aos novos usos e combinações do conhecimento existente para atingir as metas de curto prazo, ou por meio das atividades de exploration, quando refere-se à busca por novos conhecimentos, desconhecidos e muitas vezes incertos. Por isso, as atividades de exploração de conhecimento se relacionam às características individuais na relação com demais membros da família, na rotina da organização. Fatores referentes à motivação e ao envolvimento do indivíduo com o negócio familiar podem ter influência em como tais atividades são realizadas na organização. Neste aspecto, estudos apontam as bases do comprometimento dos membros envolvidos no processo de sucessão como um aspecto crítico na sucessão. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar a relação entre o comprometimento e as atividades de exploration e exploitation de conhecimento dos sujeitos envolvidos no processo de sucessão de empresas familiares. A abordagem adotada para a pesquisa foi a de métodos mistos com estratégia sequencial explanatória, sendo que incialmente coletou-se a analisou-se dados quantitativos. A partir dos achados quantitativos procedeu-se a segunda fase da pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa com o objetivo de aprofundar os resultados da pesquisa quantitativa. A pesquisa foi aplicada na Federação das Câmaras de Dirigentes Lojistas do Rio Grande do Sul (FCDL-RS) considerando empresas familiares do Rio Grande do Sul envolvidas em processos sucessórios. Participaram da etapa quantitativa 303 associados e 10 associados participaram da etapa qualitativa. Os resultados indicaram que no nível individual de análise os respondentes realizam de forma ambidestra, ambas as atividades, exploration e exploitation. Já no nível do compartilhamento de conhecimento entre sucessores e predecessores, a ambidestria não foi identificada. Ao relacionar as atividades de exploration e exploitation de conhecimento individuais e no compartilhamento com o comprometimento, identificou-se relações positivas e negativas. A relação positiva foi percebida entre o comprometimento afetivo na dimensão referente à lealdade dos indivíduos ao negocio da família e as atividades de exploitation no compartilhamento e combinação de conhecimentos. Por outro lado, foram identificadas relações negativas entre o comprometimento de continuidade e afetivo, na dimensão referente ao desejo em permanecer na empresa e as atividades de exploration no compartilhamento para a criação de novos conhecimentos. O resultado da pesquisa indica que, ao discutir as atividades de exploration, exploitation e ambidestria de conhecimento o nível de análise e o contexto da pesquisa podem influenciar nos resultados do estudo. / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, FAPERGS. / The change of command is a challenge for family businesses looking for of the business longterm survival. The succession process is a period of coexistence between predecessors and successors for knowledge sharing between generations to ensure that, the valuable knowledge about the business remains in the organization, therefore that the change of command does not affect the performance and efficiency of company. Given the importance of knowledge in the succession process of family businesses, we highlight knowledge exploration and exploitation activities, carried out individually, but also in the sharing of knowledge between predecessors and successors. Knowledge strategies can be perceived through the exploitation activities - relates to new uses and combinations of existing knowledge to achieve short-term goals, or by means of exploration activities - the search for new knowledge, unknown and often uncertain. Therefore, knowledge exploration ans exploitation activities may be related to individual characteristics and with the relationship with other family members in the routine of the organization. Thus, it allows considering the motivations and involvement of the individual with the family business may have an impact on how such activities are carried out in the organization. In this regard, previous studies indicate that the commitment bases of the members involved in the succession process, thus defining the commitment as a critical aspect of succession. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between the commitment and the activities of exploration and exploitation of knowledge of the individuals involved in the process of succession of family businesses. To reach the aim, was carried out a mixed methods approach with an explanatory sequential strategy, and initially collected to be analyzed quantitative data. From the quantitative findings we preceded to the second phase of research, with a qualitative approach that aimed to in depth the results of the quantitative research. The survey was conducted in FCDL-RS considering family businesses of Rio Grande do Sul – Southern Brazil, involved in succession processes. The final results considered 303 respondents participated in the quantitative step and 10 interviewers in the qualitative step. The main contribution of the study is the knowledge exploration and exploitation activities in the individual and the sharing between predecessors and successors, and beyond the commitment relating to these members. The results indicated that, in regard to the individual dimension of analysis, the respondents perform ambidextrous way, both activities. However, in the knowledge sharing dimension, ambidexterity was not identified. Relating the knowledge exploration and exploitation activities in the individual and sharing level with the commitment, the results identified positive and negative relationships. A positive relationship was perceived between affective commitment regarding to the loyalty dimension and exploitation activities for knowledge sharing and combination. On the other hand, negative relationships between the commitment of continuity and affective - regarding the desire to stay in business - and exploration activities on the share to the creation of new knowledge. The result of research indicates that, when discussing the activities of exploration, exploitation and ambidexterity knowledge of the level of analysis and the search context can influence the results of the study

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