Research on Open Innovation (OI) is flourishing and opening the innovation process is increasingly perceived as a vital source for sustained competitive advantage. Nascent research on OI in family firms left us to wonder whether the performance-enhancing effects of OI also hold true for family firms. What we do know so far is despite that family firms typically possess greater ability to innovate, they lack the willingness to do so. Taking this as a starting point, the purpose of this study was to identify sources of family firm heterogeneity, in order to explain how these differences influence their willingness to engage in OI and further assess the overall relevance of OI models for family firms. In an attempt to resolve the innovation paradox, the present study builds upon a multi-theory approach of behavioral lenses, to capture the inherent complexities of family firm innovation. Empirical evidence from a cross-industry analysis of 176 German Mittelstand firms provides strong support for the importance of OI practices in a family firm context. Precisely, we affirm that family firms generate increased performance outcomes when engaging in OI. Our findings unearth a double-edged sword that higher generations foster a family firm’s willingness to engage in OI, but hamper their ability to benefit from it. Our findings are especially relevant in light of current market dynamics and build the bridge between OI and family firm research in an insightful manner. We thereby contribute to solving one piece of the innovation puzzle and identify promising areas for future research.

Introduction: Family firms serve as major block in the economy all over the world, i.e. it’s significance cannot be understated. In spite of this, many firms fail to continue the firm’s quest beyond the second generation partly because of conflicts in the firm. Conflicts, which could be divided into task, relationship and process conflict, have been deemed to only be detrimental for family firms. As such, limited knowledge exists as to what positive effects conflict may bring about in family firms. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore what the positive effects of different conflict types may be in family firms. The different conflict types are in this respect deemed to be task, relationship and process conflict. Method: The empirical material used for the purpose of this study has been gathered through 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 9 different family firms. The data collected has subsequently been analyzed and conceptualized using grounded analysis (codes to themes) with an overall inductive method. Conclusion: Our findings and analysis suggest that several positive effects are associated with the different conflict types in family firms and that the family dimension of the firm work as enablers for these effects to occur. Task conflict produces a sharpened environment for task accomplishment through the enabler proximity to top level of firm. Relationship conflict result in stronger group cohesion through the enabler family feeling. Process conflict generate improved focus on task through the enabler going concern of the firm.

This study investigates payouts in Swedish family firms by focusing on both the level and speed of adjustment of dividends. In addition, the use of dual-class shares in family firms is examined to further identify potential drivers of payout differences between family-controlled companies and non-family firms. Agency theory and previous studies suggest that high and stable payouts are used by controlling families to mitigate minority shareholders’ concerns of being expropriated. We find that family firms in Sweden do not differ from non-family firms in their payouts. The results could be seen as an indication of expropriation if minority shareholders should be compensated for higher agency costs, but it could also be that family control does not worsen agency conflicts between majority and minority shareholders. Rather, other ownership structures such as the use of dual-class shares to gain control in excess of ownership seem to be associated with higher levels of payouts. Neither do family firms smooth their dividends more than non-family firms. Instead, they adapt towards their target dividend at a higher pace.

Background: Succession is a crucial concern for family business owners where an issue of importance is to retain the control within the family. Succession is a planned process which must be put in place to rearrange the leadership from one family member to another. It is a fragile process which requires a precise and in- depth planning as a result of the different essence of family firms. One of the most thriving and successful entrepreneurship regions in Sweden is the GGVV-region, Gnosjö, Gislaved, Värnamo and Vaggeryd, located in south of Sweden and consists of many family firms. Most of the companies in the GGVV-region are successful, at the same time, family firms in this region manage to go through successions and keep the business within the family. However, there is a little research available on succession within the GGVV-region. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to discover and examine the individual- and organizational level factors involved in succession for family members within family firms in the GGVV-region. The study will also identify what challenges family firms in this region deal with during the succession process. Method: The research was made with a qualitative approach, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews to collect the data. Ten face-to-face interviews were conducted with family firm owners in order to gather information about the succession process. An inductive approach has been used to analyze and interpret the data. Conclusion: It was concluded that common individual level- and organizational level factors has a major impact and is of importance when it comes to the succession process within the GGVV-region. Furthermore, it was also found that challenges such as; understand the complexity, clear work description andreleasing the control tend to have a crucial role within the succession process.

O processo sucessório pode ser visto como um dos fatores críticos para garantir a longevidade de muitas organizações, tendo em vista que é pertinente e natural a todas, sejam elas familiares ou não-familiares. O desafio, contudo, é o de atingir a manutenção apropriada das práticas de sucesso na conduta do negócio, bem como os valores morais enraizados pelos membros familiares ao longo do desenvolvimento do negócio, durante o processo sucessório. Em uma outra instância, a gestão dos interesses dos stakeholders pode ser visto como um dos principais pontos de conflitos nas organizações familiares, uma vez que a influência dos membros familiares varia em diferentes âmbitos, exercendo, portanto, considerável presença na determinação dos objetivos da organização. Estas intenções e objetivos enriquecem a importância do processo sucessório e das práticas de Governança Corporativa propiciando maior estabilidade e redução dos riscos face a necessidade da mudança na liderança e gestão da organização familiar. Esta abordagem contribui não só para voltá-las a uma maior vantagem competitiva na escolha do sucessor com maior potencial para exercer determinado cargo, mas para enriquecer a visão das práticas de governança junto às organizações familiares que visam garantir o sucesso já obtido por diversas gerações. A partir deste contexto, este estudo procurou investigar a implementação das práticas de Governança Corporativa presentes nas organizações familiares e sua evolução no processo sucessório. Visando alcançar este objetivo, realizou-se uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, por meio do método de estudo de casos múltiplos. Como principais sínteses dos resultados, conclui-se que a implementação destas práticas se tornou marco para a condução das transições nas empresas em foco, seja no âmbito da sucessão da gestão quanto da propriedade, além de garantir a união das gerações em prol do êxito do processo sucessório. / The succession process shall be considered as one of the critical factors to guarantee the longevity of many organizations, given that it is pertinent and natural to all of them, whether they are family-owned business or not. The challenge, however, is to achieve a appropriated maintainability of the successful practices concerning the way that the business is lead, as well as the moral values ingrained by the family members throughout the business development, during the succession process. In another instance, stakeholder\'s interests management shall be considered as one of the primary conflict points in family firms, seen that the family members influence varies in different scopes, exerting, therefore, considerable presence in the determination of the firm\'s objectives. These intentions and objectives enrich the importance of the succession process and Corporate Governance practices promoting a greater stability and risk reduction vis-à-vis its need of changing in the family firm\'s management and leadership. This approach contributes not only to turn them to a more relevant competitive advantage in the choice of a high potential successor to wield certain role, but to augment the view of governance practices along family firms that aim to ensure the success already obtained by other generations. Thereafter, this study seeks investigating Corporate Governance practices implementation existent in family firms and its evolution regarding succession process. Aiming to reach this objective, it is intended to conduct a qualitative research by means of a multiple case study method. As a result of the main findings, it is concluded that the implementation of these practices have become a threshold to the conduct of transitions in the companies in study, either in the succession of the business or ownership, besides guaranteeing the union of generations to achieve the success of the succession process.

Esta pesquisa inova ao investigar a dinâmica do Conselho de Família e sua influência no processo de governança e sucessão nas empresas de controle familiar. Visando responder a questão de pesquisa \"Como a dinâmica do Conselho de Família influencia e é influenciada pelo processo de governança e sucessão nas empresas de controle familiar?\", empreendeu-se umestudo de casos múltiplos aplicado a três empresas de controle familiar e a um grupo de consultores especialistas. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas no período de fevereiro a abril de 2017 com membros da família que compõe ou compuseram o Conselho de Família das empresas aqui estudadas e também com os consultores especialistas na temática Governança Corporativa, empresas familiares e Conselho de Família. Além das entrevistas, foi realizada a análise documental dos livros que contém a historia das empresas e da própria família, informações disponibilizadas no web site das empresas, notícias e matérias veiculadas na imprensa e materiais elaborados pelos consultores. O referencial teórico aborda as temáticas de governança corporativa, empresas familiares, Conselho de Administração, Conselho de Família e por fim, sucessão e conflitos nas empresas de controle familiar. Os resultados indicam que a implantação de um Conselho de Família contribui para a preparação e formação dos herdeiros e sucessores, facilitando assim a passagem do bastão, além de atuar na resolução de conflitos incentivando o diálogo entre a família e para com a empresae contribuindo ainda para manutenção e amadurecimento das práticas de governança corporativa. / This research innovates when investigating the dynamics of the Family Council and its influence on the process of governance and succession in family firms. Aiming to answer the research question \"How do Family Council dynamics influence and is influenced by the process of governance and succession in family firms?\", a study of multiple cases has been undertaken and applied to three family firms and to a group of expert consultants. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in the period from February to April 2017, with members of the family who composes or composed the Family Council of the companies studied here, and also with the expert consultants in the thematic Corporate Governance, family firms and Family Council. In addition to the interviews, it was performed a documentary analysis of the books that contain the history of companies and the family itself, information available on the website of the companies, news and materials published in the press and materials prepared by consultants. The theoretical reference addresses the issues of corporate governance, family firms, Board of Directors, Family Council and finally succession and conflicts in family firms. The results indicate that the introduction of a Family Council contributes to the preparation and training of heirs and successors, thus facilitating to pass the baton forward, as well as acting in conflict resolution, encouraging dialog between the family and to the company and also contributing to maintenance and maturity of corporate governance practices.

Este trabalho investiga os impactos provenientes da propriedade familiar em eventos de aquisições. Foram analisados 355 anúncios concluídos de eventos de aquisições, realizados por 122 empresas públicas no período de 2009 a 2013. Os dados foram obtidos do banco de dados da Thomson Reuters SDC Platinum e também da Thomson Reuters Eikon. Foi utilizada a metodologia de estudos de eventos (MacKinlay, 1997; McWilliams & Siegel 1997), para aferir os retornos anormais em aquisições de empresas familiares e não familiares. Para analisar os dados obtidos, foram empregadas análises univariadas, bivariadas e regressões multivariadas reportadas com erros-padrão robustos por Hubber-White Sandwich, e técnica não paramétrica estatística de resampling Bootstrap. Foram empregados, ainda, testes de robustez para a variável explicativa grau de concentração acionária e de benchmark de retorno de mercado. Outrossim, foram adotadas variáveis específicas de empresas familiares, para melhor mensurar o impacto da propriedade familiar sobre os retornos anormais analisados. Como principais achados da dissertação, foram encontrados evidências de que empresas familiares geram valor em aquisições. Encontrou-se, também, que não há evidências de que empresas familiares tenham maiores retornos anormais positivos que empresas não familiares. Reporta-se, ainda, que o retorno anormal está relacionado positivamente à empresa familiar cujo gestor é membro da família controladora. Por outro lado, não se encontraram evidências de que os retornos anormais em aquisições de empresas estejam relacionados positivamente às empresas de primeira e segunda gerações familiares. Por fim, relata-se que não há evidências de que haja relação positiva entre o grau de concentração acionária detida pela família controladora e retornos anormais em aquisições. / This study investigates the impact of family ownership on acquisitions of enterprises. On this purpose, we analyzed 355 acquisitions made by 122 public firms during the sample period 2009 to 2013. The data on acquisitions of enterprises were obtained from Thomson Reuters SDC Platinum and Thomson Reuters Eikon database. This study employs the Methodology of Event Study (MacKinlay, 1997; McWilliams & Siegel 1997) in order to obtain the performance on acquisitions measured by the abnormal return. Furthermore, were employed univariate, bivariate statistical analysis and multivariate regression analysis. Those regressions were reported with robust standard errors by Hubber-White Sandwich. Additionally, as a robustness test, this study reported the non parametric robust statistical test; yclept, Bootstrap. Besides, were applied further robust techniques, due to better measure the impact of the variable family firms on the dependent variable abnormal return. Our findings suggest that there is evidence that family firms generate value on acquisitions of enterprises. Moreover, this study founded that there is no evidence that family firms have higher abnormal returns than non-family firms. This research, withal, sheds lights on the fact that abnormal return it is positively related to family firms which has a family member as a director, vice president or CEO of the company. On the other hand, it is founded on this research that there is no evidence that abnormal returns are associated to the first and second generations. Ultimately, it is reported that there is no evidence that exists positive relation among the variable power concentration (stake owned by the controlling family) and abnormal returns on acquisitions of enterprises.

We compare acquisition activity, method of payment choice, and the long-run value implications of acquisitions by newly public single-class and dual-class US companies. Our results show that dual-class IPO firms make relatively more acquisitions in innovative industries and are less likely to pay with stock as compared to single-class IPO firms. We provide evidence that the reluctance of dual-class firms to pay with stock is not related to the insiders' cash-flow rights but it is significantly positively related to the insiders' voting rights and wedge between the insiders' voting rights and cash-flow rights. We also find that acquiring dual-class IPOs perform better in the long-run than acquiring single-class IPO firms, and the better performance is mainly due to acquisitions in innovative industries. The results suggest that insiders of dual-class IPOs try to retain control during subsequent M&A activities. The governance structure in such firms allows them to make investments in high risk projects that enhance shareholder value in the long-run. Next, we examine the acquisition performance of family and non-family firms in the S&P 500 universe. Using style-adjusted and market-adjusted buy-and-hold returns (BHAR) and controlling for firm and merger characteristics, we find that the post-merger performance of family firms is significantly better than that of non-family firms. In particular, the mean one-year style-adjusted buy-and hold abnormal return is around 18% higher for family acquirers than for non-family acquirers. Further, contrary to the argument that founding family members make value-destroying diversifying acquisitions to minimize the risk of their personal portfolio, we do not find that family firms lose value in diversifying acquisitions. This result is consistent with Stein's model (1997) showing that diversification helps to reduce the cost of capital of the firm.

Introduction:The current economic crisis started in 2007 warned many business pro-fessions how important it is to react to the crisis quickly and properly. Many studies have been conducted on family businesses about their special resources environment, succession, governance etc. There are barely literature has ever mentioned about how family business cope with economic crisis. Thus, the author conducted such a study on this topic to explore more in family business study.Purpose:To enhance the understanding of economic crisis management in fam-ily business, this thesis will analyze the actions of family firms during the economic crisis. This research aims to investigate how unique fam-ily firm resources influence the way they cope with the economic crisis.Method:A qualitative research has been conducted in this study. In-depth inter-views were conducted in two family business firms with the business owners and other high level position staff who have clear picture about the management during economic crisis. Tele-interview was adopted due to the distance limit.Conclusions:During economic crisis, family firms do not use layoff as a major means to cost down. They keep relative stable relationship with their employ-ees as well as other business partners. They seek financial and other help from the family members or in the family network rather than other external resources such as bank etc. The governance also con-cerns more on employee benefits.

Familjeföretag är en ständigt växande företagsform och står idag för hälften av allt företagande i Sverige. Familjeföretag har visat sig skilja sig från icke-familjeföretag i olika hänseenden, och dessa skillnader har forskats mycket kring. Bland annat har forskning visat att familjeföretag i mindre grad använder sig av finansiell information vid beslutsfattande än icke-familjeföretag, samtidigt som de visar sig prestera bättre än dem. Detta trots att finansiell information har påståtts vara ett viktigt underlag vid beslutsfattande för företag generellt. Detta väcker intresse för att undersöka hur familjeföretagare använder sig av finansiell information när de fattar beslut, och vilken roll den har.  Syftet med studien är att utifrån familjeföretagarens perspektiv utforska användningen av finansiell information, genom att studera beslutsprocessen vid långsiktiga och återkommande satsningar som familjeföretagare ställs inför. Studiens forskningsfråga är därför hur familjeföretagare använder sig av finansiell information som underlag vid beslutsfattande. Genom att gå in i undersökningen med en abduktiv ansats, fungerar teorierna rationell beslutsteori, begränsad rationalitet och beslutsirrationalitet som inspirationskälla för att kunna hitta mönster och tendenser som pekar på hur familjeföretagare använder sig av finansiell information när de fattar beslut. För att kunna få en förståelse för detta, görs en kvalitativ undersökning baserat på semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Slutsatsen av denna studie är att användningen av den finansiella informationen påverkas av hur mycket familjeföretagsanda som finns i företaget, vilket förklaras av graden av öppenhet och behovet av kontroll. Större familjeföretagsanda bidrar till att den finansiella informationen används i mindre grad vid långsiktiga beslut, och i större grad vid återkommande beslut. Företag med mindre familjeföretagsanda tenderar att använda lika mycket finansiell information som icke-finansiell information vid både långsiktiga och återkommande beslut. / Family firms are an ever growing business and now accounts for half of all employment in Sweden. Family firms have been found to differ from non-family firms in different aspects, and these differences have been studied a lot by researchers. For example, research has shown that family firms use financial information in decision-making in smaller extent than non-family firms, while they also appear to perform better than them. This despite the fact that financial information has been alleged to be an important basis of decision making for companies in general. This raises interest in examining how family entrepreneurs use financial information when making decisions, and what role it plays.  The purpose with this study is that by the family entrepreneurs explore the use of financial information by studying the decision making for long term and recurring decisions that family entrepreneurs face. Therefore, the study research question is how family entrepreneurs use financial information as a basis for decision making. By entering the study with an abductive approach, the theories rational decision theory, bounded rationality and decision irrationality work as inspiration to find patterns and trend that point to how family entrepreneurs use financial information when making decisions. In order to gain an understanding of this, a qualitative study is made by using semi-structured interviews. The conclusion of this study is that the use of financial information is affected by how much family spirit exists in the firm, which is explained by the degree of transparency and the need of control. Larger family spirit contributes to that financial information is used to a lesser extent in long term decisions, and to a greater extent in recurrent decisions. Companies with smaller family spirit tend to use as much financial as non-financial information on both long-term and recurring decisions.