"Many of the challenges faced by family-owned businesses develop after the firm has reached a stage of maturity, when the first generation is faced with issues concerning the role of their children in the business and the long-term future of the enterprise. This collection of case studies from...

Businesses owned and operated by families constitute the vast majority of firms around the world. These firms are found in all industrial segments, from retail and service establishments to heavy manufacturers. Their sizes and revenues range from the smallest venture of a husband and wife...

"Family-owned and managed firms are often beset by a variety of crises that can impact the firm's very survival. These may include changes in technology, deaths of critical family members, competition within an industrial sector, shifts in market dynamics and product mixes, economic turmoil,...