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Unstable times have been with mankind since recorded history began, markedly so since September 11th 2001, and its effects on the financial markets have led to substantial loss of wealth, especially for wealthy families. The wealth of these families is widespread: it often contains a family business at its heart, and includes property and portfolio assets as well as art collections and other important assets, often spread over many jurisdictions. Advisors can help or hinder the wealth preservation efforts of wealthy families. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-164) Also available in print.

The purpose of this research paper was to identify and understand critical successor attributes in Indian family owned businesses in South Africa. The understanding of these attributes may inform management’s selection criteria in choosing an appropriate successor. Succession is crucial in terms of the survival of Indian family owned businesses in South Africa. A literature review on the topic of succession in family owned businesses was done. From the literature, 30 critical successor attributes were identified. The research question was formulated after discovering that there have not been any South African studies on the topic of critical successor attributes. Interviewees were asked to list and discuss critical successor attributes as part of the open ended questions during the interview and then later presented and asked to rate the importance of the 30 successor attributes identified from two previous studies. Eight Indian family owned businesses were identified through purposive sampling where the predecessor/potential predecessor and the successor/potential successor were interviewed. The open ended questions in the interview provided rich descriptive data and highlighted critical successor attributes according to this sample. The most critical successor attributes identified were financial and accounting skills; education; and business acumen. When presented with the 30 attributes identified from the previous two studies, “integrity” and “commitment to business” were identified as the two most important successor attributes from this list. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The objective of this report was to gain a better understanding of the role of Indian women in South African Indian family-owned businesses. Thirty, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted. The respondents comprised of ten South African - Indian females, ten Indian males and ten non-family employees. The feedback was analysed using the constant comparative analysis method. Purposive sampling coupled with maximum variation generated a participant base of Indian family businesses with female family members actively involved on a daily basis in the business, primarily in financial administration. A model, based on the findings, was derived for the purpose of drawing the key findings together. This model (Figure 3) illustrates the key roles of Indian women, relating to the six research questions and also highlights the emergence of a new theme, male ego conditioning. The model provides a basis for family business practices in understanding the interplay of the various roles of Indian women at the individual, business and family interfaces., in order to cope with their family and business responsibilities. This research project also uncovered additional findings that have improved the current understanding of the role of Indian women in a family business and provides implications for future family business practice and research. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Indians arrived in South Africa since 1860 predominantly as indentured labourers. Despite over a century of pointed hostility towards Indian entrepreneurs, they managed to endure hardship and thrive. Today they run some of the most successful family businesses in South Africa. Family businesses internationally have had a reputation of struggling to survive beyond the first generation. This study attempted to identify factors that contributed to family business survival. Of the factors identified, which of these factors were adopted to a significantly greater extent by highly profitable family businesses as compared to family businesses exhibiting average profitability. Two family business groups were studied. A control group and a success group. Both groups were profitable companies; however the success group had a higher profitability for the past five years as compared to the control group. Thirteen factors were identified as key contributors to family business longevity. All thirteen factors were adopted by 45% of the Indian businesses. Of these eight factors: strategic planning, governance structures, succession planning , open family communication, family networks, trust, cultural values alignment and harmonious family relations were proved to be adopted to a significantly higher extent by the highly profitable companies. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This paper describes the process of being an entrepreneur who is a minority. The interviews and observations that were captured on camera can now be transformed into a documentary. This project was started to shed light on the struggle of being a an entrepreneur and to get a first-hand account of the high and lows of a business. It was found that everyone had similar reasons for starting the business although they had different products that were produced. In the end, this documentary will help others understand what it means to be a business owner, why entrepreneurship is important, and what impact this can have on a community.

The importance of SME family businesses is evident in society. Coming out of a recession, the innovation, labour absorption and employment creation capabilities of SMEs and family businesses globally, and in emerging economies with high levels of unemployment and poverty, is incredibly important for environmental sustainability and societal harmony. Good governance is empirically proven to improve long-term sustainability of organisations, and poor governance is linked to the demise of many businesses – large and small, family and non-family businesses alike. This research, by means of a thorough literature review of family business and governance, and a single in-depth case study, identifies the components of SME family business governance in a contextual setting in South Africa. The literature review defines SMEs, family businesses and corporate governance. It reviews the nuances of family businesses that make them distinctive from non-family businesses, the models of family businesses that have been developed over time, the approaches to corporate governance, corporate governance codes of conduct, and family business governance models, as well as the components and dynamics of family business governance. The qualitative case study approach adopted enables the in depth contextual identification and exploration of the dynamics of family business governance. Empirical data collected from interviews, observations and reports are analysed using triangulation and pattern matching logic to ensure validity and reliability. Empirical findings are discussed with reference to the literary research findings, integrating literary and empirical findings, and resulting in the development of a conceptual model of family business governance, an SME family business governance structures model, and an SME family business authority delegation model. Governance is defined as the manifestation of the intent of the founder/owners of the business. Governance is manifest in structures, strategies, policies, procedures, relationships and performance. The reciprocity of transfers and outputs between the family business systems, the family business and its contextual environment is reflected in the performance of the business; which in turn is a reflection of the governance of the family and the family business. The study concludes with the importance of the family and its cohesion and harmony, and the impact it has on synergy, unity and harmony in the business. The study also finds that governance is strategic leadership, and that efficient and effective governance leads to synergies between the family, the family business and its contextual environment that when harnessed and directed towards a vision, can produce unimitable competitive advantages for the family firm.

The research project discusses the ethical aspects of governance focusing on formalisation of ethics within a state owned enterprises as a mechanism to improve governance practices.