WIFU’S SPECTRUM
OF TOPICS

EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND FOR FAMILY BUSINESSES

The topics covered by the WIFU’s research are as diverse as the family businesses they examine. They encompass aspects such as succession arrangements; family strategy; corporate and family governance; growth and internationalisation; shareholder configurations and conflicts; characteristics of long-lasting family businesses; opportunities and risks in owner-leadership; crisis dynamics; financing; personnel and management; and the law for family businesses. As well as large research projects, the Institute also supervises numerous habilitations, doctorates and master and bachelor dissertations about these various issues.

BUSINESS AND FAMILY

BUSINESS AND FAMILY

As business families grow, they can turn into multiple groups or large dynastic family associations. How do you include them all?
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SUCCESSION

SUCCESSION

This topic focuses on corporate succession and all its implications for revenue, inheritance tax implications and upbringing.
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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How can a family business be steered in all its facets? This is where everything relating to corporate management is discussed.
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FAMILY BUSINESSES IN SOCIETY

FAMILY BUSINESSES IN SOCIETY

Family businesses are firmly rooted in society. How can family businesses from different cultural backgrounds collaborate successfully with each other?
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CRISES & CONFLICTS

CRISES & CONFLICTS

Business before family? Or family before business? The focus here is on the dynamics and influence of the family on the business.
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DIGITALISATION & TECHNOLOGY

DIGITALISATION & TECHNOLOGY

New technologies play a key role. How do family businesses position themselves to succeed in the age of digitalisation?
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LONGEVITY

LONGEVITY

In this topic, the focus is on transgenerational aspects and the part they play in the longevity of family businesses. We look at the mechanisms planned and used to create a sustainable business.
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WEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

WEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

The WIFU research area for wealth psychology and transgenerational wealth management focuses on the essential aspects of transgenerational wealth management in family businesses.
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Family strategy encompasses all of the activities undertaken by a business family with the aim of professionalising themselves vis-à-vis the family business. This encompasses the values, regulations and definitions that apply within a business family and that are usually written down in a constitution. Working on a family strategy is one of the most fruitful yet challenging activities a business family can undertake.

Professor Dr Tom A. Rüsen, CEO WIFU Foundation/Managing Director WIFU

Business families are subject to special dynamics, tensions and challenges. These can only be understood from a combination of the viewpoints of sociology, social psychology and ethnology, and these must in turn take into account the broader social context.

Professor Dr Heiko Kleve, holder of the WIFU Foundation’s Chair of Organisation and Development of Business Families

Families and companies follow very different sets of logic as social systems. Problems and conflicts are the norm and should be expected. The actual academic challenge is to explain how many families manage to deal well with unavoidable differences and irreconcilabilities. It is this which must be learned: how can a family and company not only get along well, but also provide resources for one another which benefit both sides?

Professor Dr Arist von Schlippe, holder of the WIFU Foundation’s Chair of Leadership and Dynamics in Family Businesses

Legally relevant decisions have to be made and normative frameworks complied with in every business. The intertwining of family interests with corporate motives is specific to family businesses. Understanding this phenomenon from a jurisprudence point of view is a key focus of the law of family businesses across all of its topics.

Professor Dr Christoph Schreiber, holder of the WIFU Foundation’s Chair of Family Business Law

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Definitions, facts, theses

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  • Family businesses
  • Business family
  • Shareholder expertise
  • Family strategy
  • Family constitution
  • Family business governance
  • ‘Mittelstand’ – medium sized German businesses
  • Succession