Managing a Family Business

Catalog description

This course provides a foundation for understanding family businesses, which represent over 80% of the world's free economies. The dynamics of first generation start-ups or multi-generational family businesses are often unique, yet tenuous to manage. Regardless of whether you are a member of the managing family or assuming a position within the firm, comprehension of the idiosyncrasies of successfully managing their complex operations is imperative. Through class discussions, case studies, articles, role plays and your research project based on auditing a locally-based family enterprise, this course will enable you to analyze and consider participating in a family business. Guest lectures from local family businesses will provide real-world application of the theories and concepts discussed in class.