Family Business (2235.YR.003759.1)
General information
Type: |
OPT |
Curs: |
3,4 |
Period: |
S semester |
ECTS Credits: |
2 ECTS |
Teaching Staff:
| Group |
Teacher |
Department |
Language |
| Year 3 |
Maria Jose Parada Balderrama |
Dirección General y Estrategia |
ENG |
| Group |
Teacher |
Department |
Language |
| Year 4 |
Maria Jose Parada Balderrama |
Dirección General y Estrategia |
ENG |
Workload distribution
The structure and workload of the sessions will vary according to the content. The methodology may include theoretical presentations, group discussions, role plays, films, written cases. The course is based on the book :Family Business Models (see selected literature). The different sessions will require previous preparation. The sessions will be prepared in groups. The first day groups of four to five people will be created. These groups will be the same for all assignments throughout the course. Groups are expected to attend to class with the assignments previously prepared and ready to work and discuss them during the lecture.
Course Learning Objectives
Family businesses are the dominant form of organization around the world. Evidence shows that family businesses outperform other types of businesses, when appropriately managed. If not, family involvement can have a negative effect on business performance.
Family businesses have specific characteristics that have to be managed with rigor. The lack of family-business management weakens both family and business, being a main cause of under performance.
Traditional management theory usually focuses on the business side of family business, leaving aside the family, thus overlooking the complexity of family businesses.
Business management is based on fast feedback systems, which means that the quality/effect/consequence of a decision is seen quite fast. On the contrary, family-business-related issues are characterized by long delays between cause and effects, making mistakes more harmful and difficult to solve.
This course aims to expose students to family-business management tools that can help family businesses thrive in the long run.
The course is addressed to students interested in understanding family businesses, either because they belong to a family business or because they might end up working for a family business.
Our goal is to enhance the knowledge students have developed during their careers by providing them with additional tools and frameworks that help understanding family-business dynamics and being competent in its management.
Learning objectives include:
- Be able to recognize and understand the logic of family-business dynamics.
- Be able to do an appropriate diagnosis of the family business and anticipate future evolution.
- Familiarize with and be able to apply family-business management tools.
- Be able to recognize different mindsets that business families develop.
- Familiarize with the process from value creation to value preservation.
Methodology
Given the approach of the course, we use a methodology of discovery. A variety of methodologies is used, all of them based on high student implication and participation.
These methodologies may include:
- Lectures and conceptual presentation from faculty
- Case discussion
- Readings and videos
- Guest speaker(s)
- Role Plays/simultations
Students are expected to prepare the session before-hand (assignments are given for each class (in the form of readings, preparing cases, reflections, quizzes, among others). Readings are used both as previous materials to be discussed in class, and as follow up materials to be used to deepen in the domains that have been discussed. Students are also expected to prepare in groups the cases and upload their solutions to the platform (ecampus).
Assessment criteria
Individual contribution (20%)
It may include: class participation, attendance to sessions, quizzes, individual reflections, among other individual tasks.
Group activities (15%)
The first day, groups of five to six people will be created. These groups will be the same for all assignments throughout the course. Groups are expected to attend the session with the assignments previously prepared and ready to work and discuss them during the session.
Final Group Assignment (35%)
Applying the knowledge acquired during the course and the tools learned, you have to analyse a case (either your own family business) or a case provided by the professor. The aim is you give recommendations to the family after a sound analysis, and explain the implementation process you suggest.
Final exam (individual) (take-home) (30%)
The final exam includes a quiz with 20-30 questions and an individual reflection about your take-aways from the course.
Bibliography
Course Textbook:
Gimeno, A; Baulenas, G. & Comacros, J: (2010) Family business Models: practical solution for the business family, Palgrave MacMillan, London.
Required readings:
The required readings that will be used throughout the course will be posted in the syllabus which comprise: book chapters and articles related to the topics of the course.
Additional suggested books:
Gersick K. E.; Davis J. A.; Hampton, M. M.; Lansberg, I. 1997. Generation to generation : life cycles of the family business: Boston, Mass. : Harvard Business School Press
Lansberg, I. 1999. Succeeding generations : realizing the dream of families in business. Harvard Business School Press
Miller, D. y Le Breton-Miller, I (2005) Managing For The Long Run: Lessons In Competitive Advantage From Great Family Businesses. Boston Harvard Business School Press
Timetable and sections
| Group |
Teacher |
Department |
| Year 3 |
Maria Jose Parada Balderrama |
Dirección General y Estrategia |
Timetable Year 3
From 2023/9/5 to 2023/10/17:
Each Tuesday from 8:00 to 10:30. (Except: 2023/9/19)
| Group |
Teacher |
Department |
| Year 4 |
Maria Jose Parada Balderrama |
Dirección General y Estrategia |
Timetable Year 4
From 2023/9/5 to 2023/10/17:
Each Tuesday from 8:00 to 10:30. (Except: 2023/9/19)
