Podcasts, Topic: Family Strategy & Family Governance, Family Business 11. WIFU-Matinee „Die Unternehmerfamilie und ihre Familienstrategie″ At the 11th WIFU Matinee, Prof. Dr Tom A. Rüsen and Prof. Dr Arist von Schlippe will explore the question of what roles family members can take on in a family business – and what strategic decisions regarding the family... Read more
Practical article, Topic: Family businesses, leadership & business governance, entrepreneurial families Familienunternehmen – blinder Fleck der Familientherapie? In their article, Prof. Dr Arist von Schlippe and Prof. Dr Sabine Klein examine the specific interactions between entrepreneurial families and family businesses. Family, business and ownership are closely... Read more
Practical articles, Topic: Communication, crises and conflicts Das Testament schafft Fakten – Erben, Vererbung und Gerechtigkeit In his article, Arist von Schlippe examines the specific dynamics of conflict that can arise within families as a result of inheritance. It is particularly when it comes to the distribution of assets that differing notions of fairness... Read more
Practice article, topic: Communication, Crises & Conflicts, Entrepreneurial Family Ein Businessplan für das Juwel: Schräge kommunikative Anschlüsse In his article, Arist von Schlippe analyses an escalated succession dispute within an entrepreneurial family. The story begins with the parents„ offer to hand over their business – their “jewel’ – to their son, whereupon the... Read more
Practical article, Topic: Communication, Family business Geschwister: Zwischen Nähe und Distanz, zwischen Intimität und Feindseligkeit The article examines sibling relationships as one of the longest-lasting and most formative social relationships in a person’s life. Siblings share their earliest experiences of closeness, rivalry, jealousy, ... Read more
Practical guides, Topic: Communication, Crises & Conflicts, Succession, Family businesses Konflikte und Konfliktdynamiken in Unternehmerfamilien In this practical guide, Arist von Schlippe and Tom A. Rüsen analyse the specific causes, patterns and escalation mechanisms of conflicts within entrepreneurial families. The starting point is the thesis that conflict... Read more
Practical guides, topics: Family strategy & family governance, leadership & business governance, crises & conflicts, succession, entrepreneurial families Familienstrategieentwicklung in Unternehmerfamilien – Inhalt und Formen von Family Governance und Familienmanagementsystemen In this practical guide, Tom A. Rüsen, Arist von Schlippe and Torsten Groth present the Witten Model of Family Strategy Development. The guide is based on more than two decades of research carried out by the Witten Institute... Read more
Books, Topic: Family Strategy & Family Governance, Communication, Longevity, Succession, Entrepreneurial Families Die beiden Seiten der Unternehmerfamilie – Familienstrategie über Generationen: Auf dem Weg zu einer Theorie der Unternehmerfamilie Entrepreneurial families are families like any other, and yet they are also very different. They have to look after the wishes and needs of each individual member, whilst also running a business, which…. Read more
Podcasts, Topic: Family Strategy & Family Governance, Family Business 10. WIFU-Matinee „Die Unternehmerfamilie und ihre Familienstrategie″ At the 10th WIFU Matinee, Prof. Dr. Tom A. Rüsen and Prof. Dr. Arist von Schlippe will discuss the third topic area of the Witten Strategy Council. The focus will be on how family businesses can integrate their personal and... Read more
Practice article, topic: Family Strategy & Family Governance, Shareholder Competence, Entrepreneurial Family Führerschein für Gesellschafter In the interview „Driving Licence for Shareholders – Competence Mix Ensures Professionalisation,“ Prof. Dr. Anne K. Heider explains what skills shareholders need to fulfil their ownership role in a family... Read more
Practice Guides, Topic: Family Businesses, Succession, Entrepreneurial Family Nachfolge im Familienunternehmen langfristig sichern In the practical guide „Securing the Long-Term Succession of Family Businesses – How to Structure Succession within Companies and Among Shareholders“, published by the WIFU Foundation (2020), Torsten Groth, To... Read more
Practical article, Topic: Crises & Conflicts, Succession, Family-run businesses Psychologische Kontrakte – Implizite Erwartungen und ihre Rolle in Konflikten In their article „Implicit Expectations and Their Role in Conflicts“ (2026), Arist von Schlippe and Franziska von Kummer explain the concept of psychological contracts and demonstrate the role played by unspoken expectations... Read more
Practice article, topic: Communication, Crises & Conflicts, Entrepreneurial Family Beharrlich geführte Konflikte – Warum Fakten allein selten genügen The article „Persistently Led Conflicts – Why Facts Alone Are Rarely Enough“ by Dr. Franziska v. Kummer and Prof. Dr. Arist von Schlippe examines the psychological causes of rigid beliefs in conflict situations... Read more
Practical articles, Topics: Digitalisation & AI, Crises & Conflicts, Family-run businesses The 11 Digital Warning Signs of Conflict Escalation in Business Families In the article „The 11 Digital Warning Signs of Conflict Escalation in Business Families“ (2026), Christina Strauss, Arist von Schlippe, Franz Kellermanns and Torsten Pieper highlight how relationship conflicts in business... Read more
Practical guides, topics: Family strategy & family governance, leadership & business governance, crises & conflicts, succession, entrepreneurial families Desarrollo de estrategias familiares en familias empresarias In the practical guide „Family Strategy Development in Entrepreneurial Families – Content and Forms of Family Governance and Family Management Systems,“ published by the WIFU Foundation (2022), Tom A. Rüsen, Arist v... Read more
