Company Transfer & Succession
Niveau
Bachelor
Learning outcomes of the courses/module
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 for the course
None
Course content
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 specialist literature
• 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
German
Number of ECTS credits awarded
4
Share of e-learning in %
33
Semester hours per week
3.0
Planned teaching and learning method
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.
Semester/trimester in which the course/module is offered
4
Name of lecturer
Director of Studies
Academic year
Key figure of the course/module
EGM 6
Type of course/module
integrated lecture
Type of course
Compulsory
Internship(s)
not applicable