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Company Transfer & Succession
level of course unit
BachelorLearning outcomes of course unit
The students
• know the definitions of a family business.
• know the characteristics of family businesses.
• understand the difference between family businesses and non-family businesses.
• know relevant theoretical models to describe family businesses.
• know the phases of the succession process, especially in family businesses.
• understand the specific problems and solution approaches in the management and handover of family businesses.
• know the legal, management-oriented and socio-psychological issues and problem-solving approaches.
• are able to recognize the essential factors of successful succession processes in family businesses and to apply appropriate implementation concepts.
• are able to implement the variants of the takeover and succession process, if necessary, in their own future takeover and succession planning.
• know the definitions of a family business.
• know the characteristics of family businesses.
• understand the difference between family businesses and non-family businesses.
• know relevant theoretical models to describe family businesses.
• know the phases of the succession process, especially in family businesses.
• understand the specific problems and solution approaches in the management and handover of family businesses.
• know the legal, management-oriented and socio-psychological issues and problem-solving approaches.
• are able to recognize the essential factors of successful succession processes in family businesses and to apply appropriate implementation concepts.
• are able to implement the variants of the takeover and succession process, if necessary, in their own future takeover and succession planning.
prerequisites and co-requisites
None
course contents
Part A: Basics
• Meaning and definition of family businesses
• Strengths and weaknesses of family businesses / shareholder value vs. stewardship approach
• Positioning and strategy; leadership behavior in family businesses
• Selected practical examples and reflection
Part B: Handover and takeover process
• Dynamics of family businesses based on selected models (circle model, life cycle model, familyness construct, strategic management, bulls eye approach)
• Role models in the context of company handovers & successions
• Company succession as a potential crisis situation for the family business
• Possible forms of business succession (external vs. internal)
• Success and failure factors of a successful business handover or takeover
• Meaning and definition of family businesses
• Strengths and weaknesses of family businesses / shareholder value vs. stewardship approach
• Positioning and strategy; leadership behavior in family businesses
• Selected practical examples and reflection
Part B: Handover and takeover process
• Dynamics of family businesses based on selected models (circle model, life cycle model, familyness construct, strategic management, bulls eye approach)
• Role models in the context of company handovers & successions
• Company succession as a potential crisis situation for the family business
• Possible forms of business succession (external vs. internal)
• Success and failure factors of a successful business handover or takeover
recommended or required reading
• Baus, K. (2023). Die Familienstrategie: Wie Familien ihr Unternehmen über Generationen sicher. Wiesbaden: Springer Verlag.
• Cauffman, L. (2022). Developing and sustaining a successful family business: A solution-focues guide. Abingdon, OX: Routledge.
• Märk, S., & Situm, M. (2018). Familienunternehmen und ihre Stakeholder: Problemstellung – Lösungsmodelle – Praktische Umsetzung. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
• Rüsen, T., Kleve, H., von Schlippe, A. (2021). Managing business family dynasties: Between family, organisation, and network. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
• Weishaupt, M. (2022). Erfolgreich trotz Familie: Wie Sie gravierende Fehler in Familienunternehmen vermeiden und Generationen überstehen. Kindle.
• Cauffman, L. (2022). Developing and sustaining a successful family business: A solution-focues guide. Abingdon, OX: Routledge.
• Märk, S., & Situm, M. (2018). Familienunternehmen und ihre Stakeholder: Problemstellung – Lösungsmodelle – Praktische Umsetzung. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
• Rüsen, T., Kleve, H., von Schlippe, A. (2021). Managing business family dynasties: Between family, organisation, and network. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
• Weishaupt, M. (2022). Erfolgreich trotz Familie: Wie Sie gravierende Fehler in Familienunternehmen vermeiden und Generationen überstehen. Kindle.
assessment methods and criteria
• Seminar paper and
• Quiz
• Quiz
language of instruction
Germannumber of ECTS credits allocated
4eLearning quota in percent
33course-hours-per-week (chw)
3planned learning activities and teaching methods
33 % of the event is covered by eLearning. A combination between online phases (inductive method for the independent acquisition of knowledge and the practice of tasks) and presence phases (deductive method, in which assistance is given in the learning process and knowledge is imparted via frontal lectures) is used.
