Paperback
Case Studies in Family Business
Overcoming Destructive Conflict, Deviance, and Dysfunction in the Family Firm
9781035362660 Edward Elgar Publishing
In this illuminating casebook, Roland Kidwell brings together eminent scholars and researchers, showcasing real-world examples of family businesses and potential challenges they may face. Chapters encapsulate possible tensions that may manifest within family businesses, including sibling rivalry, intergenerational conflict, and clashing ideas about work ethic. Ultimately, the authors propose that it is essential for stakeholders and those in leadership to understand what techniques, policies and behaviors do, and indeed do not, work in family firms.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
In this illuminating casebook, Roland Kidwell brings together eminent scholars and researchers, showcasing real-world examples of family businesses and potential challenges they may face. Chapters encapsulate possible tensions that may manifest within family businesses, including sibling rivalry, intergenerational conflict, and clashing ideas about work ethic. Ultimately, the authors propose that it is essential for stakeholders and those in leadership to understand what techniques, policies and behaviors do, and indeed do not, work in family firms.
Key Features:
● Contains learning notes at the end of each case to summarize key ideas and structure scholarly learning
● Includes cases from several different countries, giving this fascinating book international scope
● Provides genuine testimonies from those involved in family businesses to illustrate potential threats to company harmony and firm survival
This casebook is vital for those teaching and studying business and leadership, corporate governance, and family business. Family business advisors and those working in family business centers will additionally benefit from the practical scenarios illustrated throughout the book.
Key Features:
● Contains learning notes at the end of each case to summarize key ideas and structure scholarly learning
● Includes cases from several different countries, giving this fascinating book international scope
● Provides genuine testimonies from those involved in family businesses to illustrate potential threats to company harmony and firm survival
This casebook is vital for those teaching and studying business and leadership, corporate governance, and family business. Family business advisors and those working in family business centers will additionally benefit from the practical scenarios illustrated throughout the book.
Critical Acclaim
‘In Case Studies in Family Business, the complex tapestry of family dynamics and business challenges is unraveled with skill and insight. Its real-world cases shed light on both the unique strengths and intricate difficulties inherent in family businesses, offering a nuanced view that is deeply informative and thought-provoking. A must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of family relationships and business longevity.’
– Torsten M. Pieper, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, US and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Family Business Strategy
‘Roland Kidwell has published a special case book, inviting authors to present 19 cases that highlight the highly problematic aspects of family entrepreneurship, such as destructive conflicts, familial aggression, or entrepreneurial deceit. Despite the enthusiasm for the positive and beneficial aspects of family businesses for society, it is necessary not to lose sight of these darker sides. Each vividly presented case, therefore, provides ample material to derive solutions from the described mistakes and issues, deepening the understanding of these forms of businesses and families.’
– Heiko Kleve, Witten-Herdecke University, Germany
‘This refreshing collection of 19 cases reveals the lived realities on the dark side of family business. Editor Roland Kidwell does a masterful job of compiling cases that focus on negative behaviors including financial misconduct, incompetence, bias against non-family members and women, aggression, corporate social irresponsibility, environmental degradation, tax avoidance, and tax evasion, among others. A must-read book for advisors, educators and business leaders trying to avoid or overcome the dark sides of family business.’
– Pramodita Sharma, University of Vermont, US
– Torsten M. Pieper, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, US and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Family Business Strategy
‘Roland Kidwell has published a special case book, inviting authors to present 19 cases that highlight the highly problematic aspects of family entrepreneurship, such as destructive conflicts, familial aggression, or entrepreneurial deceit. Despite the enthusiasm for the positive and beneficial aspects of family businesses for society, it is necessary not to lose sight of these darker sides. Each vividly presented case, therefore, provides ample material to derive solutions from the described mistakes and issues, deepening the understanding of these forms of businesses and families.’
– Heiko Kleve, Witten-Herdecke University, Germany
‘This refreshing collection of 19 cases reveals the lived realities on the dark side of family business. Editor Roland Kidwell does a masterful job of compiling cases that focus on negative behaviors including financial misconduct, incompetence, bias against non-family members and women, aggression, corporate social irresponsibility, environmental degradation, tax avoidance, and tax evasion, among others. A must-read book for advisors, educators and business leaders trying to avoid or overcome the dark sides of family business.’
– Pramodita Sharma, University of Vermont, US
Contents
Contents
Introduction: dealing with the dark side of family firms, case by case 1
Roland E. Kidwell
PART I FAMILY FIGHTS: PARENTS, CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS
1 Navigating relational rifts and communication clashes in the Peyton
family firm 9
Gaia Marchisio, Eric R. Kushins and Robert Randolph
2 Brotherly battles at Brew Corp: “family firms should be forbidden
by law” 26
Dagmar Y. Hattenberg, Erik Veldhuizen and Judith van Helvert
3 Feuding siblings: sowing the seeds of conflict in the family business 38
Unai Arzubiaga, Amaia Maseda and Javier Macías
4 Tuskys Supermarkets: the good, the bad and the ugly in the Kago
family business 49
William Murithi and Sally Kah
5 Stahlmann GmbH: everything lost due to intergenerational conflict 63
Sandra Fiedler
6 Dee Doks’ family business conflicts: culture or nurture? 73
Folashade O. Akinyemi
PART II SUCCESSION STRUGGLES (AND SUCCESSES): THE NEXT
GENERATIONS
7 Schmidt Print and Media – a family business in upheaval 87
Christopher Khoury, Christine Keller and Nadine Kammerlander
8 Heladería Roma: challenges of succession in a climate of distrust 96
Pablo Álamo and Unai Arzubiaga
9 RAJ General Supplies Limited: three daughters take over the family
business 111
William Murithi and Karumba Kinyua
10 Preventing history from repeating itself: the succession process at
De Berg 121
Astrid Kramer and Miranda Stienstra
PART III CORPORATE GOVERNANCE – OR LACK THEREOF
11 The Johnsons unveiled: a family’s clash of values, business, and
philanthropy 128
Małgorzata Smulowitz and Peter Vogel
12 The past catches up with everyone: legal failures of the previous
generation threaten a family firm’s future 138
Jan Klaus Tänzler and Annegret Hauer
13 Sport sponsoring at Royal Jumbo Food Group: a double-edged sword 147
Miranda Stienstra, Astrid Kramer and Ties van Daal
14 The enemy at home: diversification and professionalization at BOMBE 156
María Jesús Hernández-Ortiz, Manuel Carlos Vallejo-Martos,
Myriam Cano-Rubio and Francisca Panadés-Zamora
PART IV BAD BEHAVIOR IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS
15 Landscape Plus 169
Steve Gaklis
16 Jacobson Hardware Store: overcoming conflict, dysfunction, and
death in a family business 183
John James Cater III
17 Lost in transitions? 194
Cristina Alvarado-Alvarez and Martin C. Euwema
18 Frutas y Verduras San Miguel: gambling with the future of the family firm 200
Pablo Álamo and Unai Arzubiaga
19 Blinded by trust: a cousin’s fraud threatens a family business 212
Ellison Howard
Afterword 219
Introduction: dealing with the dark side of family firms, case by case 1
Roland E. Kidwell
PART I FAMILY FIGHTS: PARENTS, CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS
1 Navigating relational rifts and communication clashes in the Peyton
family firm 9
Gaia Marchisio, Eric R. Kushins and Robert Randolph
2 Brotherly battles at Brew Corp: “family firms should be forbidden
by law” 26
Dagmar Y. Hattenberg, Erik Veldhuizen and Judith van Helvert
3 Feuding siblings: sowing the seeds of conflict in the family business 38
Unai Arzubiaga, Amaia Maseda and Javier Macías
4 Tuskys Supermarkets: the good, the bad and the ugly in the Kago
family business 49
William Murithi and Sally Kah
5 Stahlmann GmbH: everything lost due to intergenerational conflict 63
Sandra Fiedler
6 Dee Doks’ family business conflicts: culture or nurture? 73
Folashade O. Akinyemi
PART II SUCCESSION STRUGGLES (AND SUCCESSES): THE NEXT
GENERATIONS
7 Schmidt Print and Media – a family business in upheaval 87
Christopher Khoury, Christine Keller and Nadine Kammerlander
8 Heladería Roma: challenges of succession in a climate of distrust 96
Pablo Álamo and Unai Arzubiaga
9 RAJ General Supplies Limited: three daughters take over the family
business 111
William Murithi and Karumba Kinyua
10 Preventing history from repeating itself: the succession process at
De Berg 121
Astrid Kramer and Miranda Stienstra
PART III CORPORATE GOVERNANCE – OR LACK THEREOF
11 The Johnsons unveiled: a family’s clash of values, business, and
philanthropy 128
Małgorzata Smulowitz and Peter Vogel
12 The past catches up with everyone: legal failures of the previous
generation threaten a family firm’s future 138
Jan Klaus Tänzler and Annegret Hauer
13 Sport sponsoring at Royal Jumbo Food Group: a double-edged sword 147
Miranda Stienstra, Astrid Kramer and Ties van Daal
14 The enemy at home: diversification and professionalization at BOMBE 156
María Jesús Hernández-Ortiz, Manuel Carlos Vallejo-Martos,
Myriam Cano-Rubio and Francisca Panadés-Zamora
PART IV BAD BEHAVIOR IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS
15 Landscape Plus 169
Steve Gaklis
16 Jacobson Hardware Store: overcoming conflict, dysfunction, and
death in a family business 183
John James Cater III
17 Lost in transitions? 194
Cristina Alvarado-Alvarez and Martin C. Euwema
18 Frutas y Verduras San Miguel: gambling with the future of the family firm 200
Pablo Álamo and Unai Arzubiaga
19 Blinded by trust: a cousin’s fraud threatens a family business 212
Ellison Howard
Afterword 219
