Background: Make or buy decisions is the most fundamental part in a company’s manufacturing strategy. The decision is complex and involves sacrifices whichever strategy is chosen, and before making the decision the firm should understand and evaluate the trade-offs and comparative costs of manufacturing or outsourcing. The uniqueness of family firms is that they often operate their business with non-financial goals at the centre. This study will investigate the make or buy decisions at Väderstad AB, a family owned firm that deals with decisions of make or buy on a large scale, with many thousands of parts included in their final machines, and decisions made daily whether to make or buy. There is no existing research looking at the qualitative non-financial goals and factors in family firms and how it affects the make or buy decision. Purpose: This master thesis studies the make or buy decision at a family firm. The aim is twofold, namely, to explore the potential uniqueness of family firms within the context of the make or buy decision and then to create a make or buy decision model for a family firm. This aim is explorative, i.e. to generate theory, in the realm of family firm research. Method: This is a qualitative study performed by conducting a single case study methodology. 12 Semi-structured interviews with 14 employees from all parts of the case company and the use of documents from archival records were collected as data.  The data was analyzed with the technique of 1st order concepts, etc. as developed by Gioia. Conclusion: Our analysis showed that in the context of family firms, the primary factors influencing make or buy decisions at the case company were not financial goals. Instead drivers were goodwill for customers, innovation, quality, flexibility and control which are non-financial goals. However, financial goals were not neglected, but rather costs were measured after a decision had been made, proving that it was not in the centre of their operations before and during the decision and thus, it was secondary. As a result, non-financial goals played a larger role than financial goals in the make or buy decision.

Jordbruksbranschen har genom tiderna utsatts för flera kriser. Den här studien undersöker därför riskhantering i familjeägda jordbruksföretag till följd av torkan 2018, coronapandemin och kriget i Ukraina. Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ studie där intervjuer användes för datainsamling. En tematisk analys gjordes för att analysera data. Utifrån datamaterialet identifierades tre teman: påverkan utifrån, strategi och social omgivning. Baserat på dessa undersöktes riskhanteringsstrategier inom de familjeägda jordbruken, dess sociala omgivningar och påverkan av dess ägandeform. Resultatet visade att de familjeägda jordbruken har reflekterat mer över risker och riskhanteringsstrategier till följd av kriserna. Det visade också att åtgärder och strategier har implementerats i varierande utsträckning. Slutligen värderas familjen högt inom organisationen och tycks till viss del vara avgörande för de beslut som tas. Även ett starkt socialt nätverk utmärker sig i de familjeägda jordbruken. / The agricultural industry has throughout history been subjected to several crises. Therefore, this study investigates risk management in family-owned agricultural businesses following the drought of 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. The study was conducted as a qualitative study using interviews for data collection. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the data. Based on the data material, three themes were identified: external influence, strategy, and social environment. Based on these, risk management strategies within the family-owned farms, their social environments, and the impact of their ownership structure were examined. The results showed that family-owned farms have reflected more on risks and risk management strategies due to the crises. It also showed that measures and strategies have been implemented to varying degrees. Finally, the family is highly valued within the organization and seems to be somewhat crucial to the decisions made. Additionally, a strong social network stands out in family-owned farms.

儘管很多文獻探討了高層管理團隊多元化與企業績效之間的關係，但所得結果卻不一致。我們將高層管理團隊多元化分為分離型、多樣型以及不平等型三類，以中國194家家族企業為研究樣本，分別討論不同類型多元化對家族企業績效的影響。具體來說，年齡分離型多元化對企業績效沒有顯著影響，但基於社會網絡理論分析后卻發現績效與教育背景分類型呈現先低後高的U型關係；性別以及職能背景多樣型多元化對企業績效均沒有顯著影響；由於社會比較的存在以及錦標賽理論的負面效應，薪酬不平等型多元化對企業績效有負向影響，但股權不平等型多元化卻有利於績效的提升，因為股權集中於家族手中益於家族企業目標的實現，加強家族成員對企業的認同感，並減少代理成本，避免權力衝突。我們基於不同的理論，檢驗了在中國文化背景下不同種類的多元化與企業績效之間的關係。我們在考察了中國情境下的管理理論運用的同時，也發現多元化本身帶有「雙面刃」的性質，需要區別對待不同多元化指標對企業績效的作用。 / Despite a lot of literature examining the relationship between the top management team diversity and firm performance, the evidence is mixed. To reconcile the conflicting results, we divide the TMT diversity into separation, variety and disparity to discuss the relationship between them and the family firm performance in China. Results from a sample of 194 Chinese family firms indicate that there is no relationship between age separation, gender variety, functional variety and firm performance. Based on the social network theory, the relationship between educational separation and firm performance is U-shaped. In addition, considering social comparison theory and the negative impacts of tournament theory, we find that salary disparity is negatively related to company performance. However, family firm performance benefits from share disparity because the concentration on the equity allows the family to achieve the family’s goal and reduce agency cost, finally contributes to enhancing the family members’ identity and avoiding the power conflicts within the organization. Base on different theories, we examine the relationship between different aspects of diversity and family firm performance under Chinese culture background, and also find the “double-edged sword” of diversity.

過去許多國內外的研究顯示，由創業者所經營之家族企業公司績效表現與投資決策優於由接班者所經營之家族企業和非家族企業。然而，台灣過去卻鮮少有文獻探討創業者與接班者在投資決策上的主要差異，以及是否在特定的公司治理特性下可以協助創業者和接班者做決策，進一步增加公司價值。 本研究主要以2010年至2014年間台灣上市櫃家族企業作為樣本，並將樣本分為由創業者所經營之家族企業與接班者所經營之家族企業，探討由創業者經營之家族企業與接班者所控制之經營企業在併購決策上是否有所不同，在何種公司治理特性或是公司特色可使併購宣告效果增加。本研究以兩階段迴歸和事件研究法作為研究方法，第一部分分析創業者與接班者在公司經營績效上之差異，第二部分分析創業者與接班者在併購宣告效果上的差異，最後進一步分析，何種公司治理特性或是公司特色可使併購宣告之累積異常報酬增加。實證結果顯示，創業者所經營之公司經營績效較佳，且由創業者所作之併購決策，能夠顯著提升併購宣告之累積異常報酬。此外，本研究發現外部董事比例越高，對於投資人預期之累積異常報酬顯著負向效果;然而外部股東持股對於併購宣告之累積異常報酬則有正向之加強效果。 / Past studies indicate that founder-family firms exhibit better firm performance and investment decisions than successor-family firms and non-family firms. However, little research has examined the difference in investment decisions across generations (founders and successors) in Taiwan. Moreover, it is unclear whether there exist some specific firm characteristics or corporate governance structure arrangements that can improve the decision-making of corporate investment to enhance firm value. This study employs the family firms and M&A data during the period of 2010 to 2014 in Taiwan to examine whether M&A decisions differ across family generations in Taiwan. Through the two-stage least squares regression analysis and the event study analysis, we find that the founder-family firms have better firm performance than successor-family firms. The founder-family firms also earn higher acquisition announcement returns than successor-family firms. Besides, we show that the percentage of outside directors has a negative effect on the acquisition announcement returns while the largest outside ownership is positively correlated with the acquisition announcement returns.

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to provide evidence on the extent and the consequences of the provision of non-audit services (NAS) by statutory auditors to German family firms. Design/methodology/approach – The study analyzes hand collected fee data of 368 listed and private family firms in Germany. It employs univariate tests, ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares regressions to investigate potential threats to perceived auditor independence and knowledge spillovers between jointly provided NAS and audit services. Findings – Incumbent auditors are shown to be a significant source of various types of NAS to family firms. There is weak evidence on threats to perceived auditor independence and support for reciprocal knowledge spillovers between the services. While listed and private family firms do not differ in regard to the proportion of NAS fees, comparative findings suggest that key threats and benefits of jointly provided services are more prevalent among private than among listed family firms. Research limitations/implications – The study suffers from limited data availability and is restricted to the initial year of mandatory audit fee disclosure of private firms in Germany. Particularities of family firms and the German setting, as well as differential results for listed and private family firms, suggest fruitful avenues for future research. Practical implications – The study addresses the current issues in audit regulation. Regulatory bodies should consider that key threats and benefits of auditor-provided NAS decrease with stronger exogenous restrictions. Attempts to restrict jointly provided services in the EU suggest family firms to reconsider their reliance on auditors as a trusted source of NAS. Originality/value – This study is the first to provide evidence on the extent and consequences of auditor-provided NAS in family firms based on fee disclosure. It is also among the few studies that investigate private firms in a code law country and complements prior evidence from Germany that is restricted to listed firms. More generally, it contributes to limited evidence at the intersection of audit and family business research.

This cumulative dissertation covers the concepts of scenario-based strategic planning and strategic management in family firms over five articles. The first article gives an overview of the cumulative dissertation explaining the research gap, approach and contribution of the dissertation. The paper highlights the two research areas covered by the dissertation with two articles focusing on scenario-based strategic planning and two on strategic management in family firms. The second article is the first of two focusing on scenario-based strategic planning. It introduces and describes a set of six tools facilitating the implementation of scenario-based strategic planning in corporate practice. The third paper adapts these tools to the financial management and controlling context in private companies highlighting the tools’ flexibility in managing uncertain and volatile environments. The fourth article is the first of two focusing on strategic management in family firms. It analyzes organizational ambidexterity as a factor explaining family firm performance. The article shows that a high level of organizational ambidexterity in family firms leads to a higher family firm performance. The final paper concludes the dissertation examining the tendency of family firms to focus on capability exploration or resource exploitation over different generations managing the family firm.

Cette thèse propose une exploration du lien entre le capital social familial et les dimensionscognitive et relationnelle du capital social organisationnel de l'entreprise familiale (EF). La rechercheconduite allie fondamentaux théoriques de l'EF et théories de la sociologie, psychosociologie etpsychanalyse. En considérant que la famille, via sa culture, fournit un socle de lectures partagées dela réalité et influence les schèmes d'action et de pensée de ses membres, la question se pose del'impact sur le construit socio-culturel de l'EF, de l’entrechoquement ou de la superposition de cesschèmes (entre générations, membres d’une fratrie, ou membres de la famille et salariés exogènes).Pour aborder les ambivalences animant ces synergies famille-individu-entreprise, nous adaptons leconcept de PIH (Patrimoines Individuels d'Habitudes) développé par Kaufmann (2001) aux dirigeantsfamiliaux (DF), dans le cadre d'un cas unique (EF sous contrôle familial depuis le 19e siècle) précédéd'un cas exploratoire, et en enrichissant ce concept des dimensions émotions-psyché-affects. Unmodèle de cube dialectique est exploité pour une analyse et une mise en perspective inter ettransgénérationnelle conduisant à l'identification d'un "processus de gestion des PIH" des DF.L'analyse des risques attachés à ce processus offre un double axe de réflexion et d'action aux DF,l'un relatif au capital social interne de l'organisation, l'autre à la gouvernance. Le design de larecherche, abductif, de nature qualitative et interprétative, combine techniques de récits de vie,cartes cognitives, questionnaires, matrices processuelles, génogrammes, analyses des risques etélaboration de plans d'action. / The objective of this thesis is to explore the link between family social capital and the cognitive andrelational dimensions of the family firm (FF) social capital. At the crossroads of managementsciences, sociology and psychoanalysis, this work contributes to a better knowledge of the FF, whichintermingles, because of its very nature, emotions and affects in a very specific and ambivalent way.We consider that the family, through its culture, provides a shared framework to tackle reality andinfluences therefore the patterns of action and thought of its members. Thus, the question arises ofthe impact of the confrontation or superposition of these patterns (between generations, betweenbrothers and sisters, or family members and non-family employees) on the organizational culture ofthe FF. To address the ambivalences animating these family-individual-business synergies, we adaptthe concept of ICH (Individual Capitals of Habits) developed by Kaufmann (2001) to family-membermanagers (FMM), throughout a single case (preceded by an exploratory case), and we enriched itwith emotion-psyche-affect dimensions. Thus we use a dialectical cube model as a framework ofanalysis to shed light, from the inter and transgenerational angle, on a ICH management process.The analysis of the risks induced by this transversal process provides FMM with means to improveinternal organizational social capital and FF governance. The design of the research is abductive,based on a qualitative and interpretative approach. It combines FMM life stories, cognitive maps,semi directive interviews (non-family-member managers), matrices of process analysis, genograms,and risk analysis.

This cumulative dissertation covers the concepts of scenario-based strategic planning and strategic management in family firms over five articles. The first article gives an overview of the cumulative dissertation explaining the research gap, approach and contribution of the dissertation. The paper highlights the two research areas covered by the dissertation with two articles focusing on scenario-based strategic planning and two on strategic management in family firms. The second article is the first of two focusing on scenario-based strategic planning. It introduces and describes a set of six tools facilitating the implementation of scenario-based strategic planning in corporate practice. The third paper adapts these tools to the financial management and controlling context in private companies highlighting the tools’ flexibility in managing uncertain and volatile environments. The fourth article is the first of two focusing on strategic management in family firms. It analyzes organizational ambidexterity as a factor explaining family firm performance. The article shows that a high level of organizational ambidexterity in family firms leads to a higher family firm performance. The final paper concludes the dissertation examining the tendency of family firms to focus on capability exploration or resource exploitation over different generations managing the family firm.:I. SCENARIO-BASED STRATEGIC PLANNING AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN FAMILY FIRMS … 1 1. Research question and goal of the dissertation … 2 2. Summary of papers … 8 2.1. Contribution … 12 2.2. Implications and further research … 16 II. SIX TOOLS FOR SCENARIO-BASED STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THEIR APPLICATION … 25 1. Introducing tools one and two: The framing checklist and 360° stakeholder feedback … 27 1.1. The framing checklist … 27 1.2. Description of the framing checklist … 29 1.3. 360° stakeholder feedback … 36 1.3.1. Existing perceptions, blind spots and weak signals … 37 1.3.2. Description of 360° stakeholder feedback … 38 1.4. Evaluation of the framing checklist and 360° stakeholder feedback … 44 2. Applying frameworks one and two: The framing checklist and 360° stakeholder feedback in the European airline industry … 46 2.1. Introduction … 46 2.2. The framing checklist … 46 2.3. 360° stakeholder feedback … 48 3. Introducing tools three and four: The impact/uncertainty grid and the scenario matrix … 53 3.1. The impact/uncertainty grid … 53 3.2. Description of the impact/uncertainty grid … 55 3.3. The scenario matrix … 57 3.4. Description of the scenario matrix … 62 3.5. Evaluating the impact/uncertainty grid and the scenario matrix … 67 4. Applying frameworks three and four: The impact/uncertainty grid and the scenario matrix in the European airline industry … 69 4.1. Introduction … 69 4.2. The impact/uncertainty grid … 69 4.3. The scenario matrix … 71 5. Introducing tools five and six: The strategy manual and the monitoring cockpit … 87 5.1. Introduction … 87 5.2. The strategy manual … 87 5.3. Description of the strategy manual … 91 5.4. The scenario cockpit … 95 5.5. Description of the scenario cockpit … 96 5.6. Evaluating the strategy manual and the scenario cockpit ..................... 99 6. Applying frameworks five and six: The strategy manual and the scenario cockpit in the European airline industry … 102 6.1. The strategy manual … 102 6.2. The scenario cockpit … 105 III. SZENARIOBASIERTE STRATEGISCHE PLANUNG IN VOLATILEN UMFELDERN … 111 1. Einführung: Unternehmen agieren in einer zunehmend volatilen Umwelt … 112 2. Volatilität als Herausforderung für die strategische Planung … 112 3. Szenariobasierte strategische Planung als Lösungsansatz für Planung unter Volatilität …114 3.1. Grundlagen der szenariobasierten strategischen Planung … 114 3.2. Prozess der szenariobasierten strategischen Planung … 115 4. Zusammenfassung ... 122 IV. ORGANIZATIONAL AMBIDEXTERITY AND FAMILY FIRM PERFORMANCE … 125 1. Introduction … 126 2. Theory and Hypotheses … 127 3. Methodology … 131 3.1. Research Design and Sample Generation … 131 3.2. Measures … 133 4. Analysis and Results … 135 5. Discussion and Conclusion … 139 V. THE IMPACT OF SUCCESOR GENERATION DISCOUNT IN FAMILY FIRMS: EXAMINING NONLINEAR EFFECTS ON EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION … 150 1. Introduction … 151 2. The RBV and the importance of exploration and exploitation … 154 3. The importance of exploration and exploitation in family firms … 156 4. The impact of generational involvement on exploration and exploitation in family firms … 159 5. Methodology … 164 5.1. Constructs … 165 5.2. Results … 167 6. Discussion … 172 6.1. Implications for theory and practice … 175 6.2. Study limitations and future research … 176 6.3. Conclusion … 177