BA_SFB Specifics of Family Business

University of Finance and Administration
Winter 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Oskar Crnadak, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Oskar Crnadak, Ph.D.
Department of Economics and Management – Departments – University of Finance and Administration
Contact Person: Bc. Kateřina Konupková
Timetable of Seminar Groups
BA_SFB/pECPH: each odd Wednesday 12:15–12:59 E401, each odd Wednesday 13:00–13:45 E401, each odd Wednesday 14:00–14:44 E401, each odd Wednesday 14:45–15:30 E401, except Wed 22. 10., except Wed 5. 11. ; and Wed 22. 10. 12:15–13:45 E307, 14:00–15:30 E309, Wed 5. 11. 12:15–13:45 E404, 14:00–15:30 E404, O. Crnadak
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The "Specifics of Family Business" course aims to highlight the unique aspects of family businesses and their importance in developing students' managerial skills and motivation for potential involvement in intergenerational business transfers. Whether students plan to start their own family business, continue a family legacy, or work in a family business, it's crucial to introduce them to the complex dynamics that involve family, individual members, the business itself, and asset management. This intricate system has significant implications for conflict management, emphasizing the need for open communication.
At the core of family businesses lie emotional aspects, a sense of belonging, and inward communication. Family businesses are built on concrete results and rational facts, which are transparent to business partners and customers, fostering outward communication. Families primarily emphasize mutual support, assistance, tolerance, and education, whereas businesses prioritize competition and profit generation over education, focusing on enhancing professional skills.
Balancing these seemingly disparate variables is essential to ensure the harmonious functioning of both the family and the family business, representing the distinctive characteristics of family enterprises.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course, graduates will acquire a solid theoretical foundation in family business management, with a particular focus on understanding the significance of internal communication in conflict resolution. They will actively seek out exemplary cases of socially responsible behavior exhibited by family businesses. Graduates will gain an appreciation for the importance of brand development within a family business context and will be adept at designing contemporary online communication strategies to enhance brand visibility in the market.
Furthermore, students will craft comprehensive succession strategy plans and may propose the text for a family constitution. They will receive extensive training in the fundamentals of delivering effective presentations, enabling them to compile and deliver high-quality presentations with persuasive arguments in support of their proposed projects. This coursework will also provide valuable experience in teamwork dynamics during project creation.
Graduates will possess the skills to integrate the knowledge acquired from various subjects into the broader context of family business, facilitating a holistic understanding of these concepts.
Syllabus
  • 1. Identity of Family Business – Fundamental dilemmas, history, and vision.
  • 2. Family Businesses Around the World – International experiences and sources of inspiration.
  • 3. Specifics of Family Business Governance and Management.
  • 4. Strategic Planning and Management in a Family Enterprise – Business development, expansion, and parallel planning.
  • 5. Succession – Preparation and management of a succession strategy project, assessment of the company’s readiness, and processes involved in transferring management to the next generation.
  • 6. Succession Management Strategies – Processes related to the post-succession phase, transfer of ownership, company restructuring, and establishment of a family trust.
  • 7. Conflict as an Integral and Permanent Part of Human Relationships – Internal communication.
  • 8. Strategic Marketing Management – External communication and building the family business brand.
  • 9. Socioemotional Wealth and Corporate Social Responsibility – Public perception of family businesses and ESG elements.
  • 10. Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Company preparedness for renewable energy and long-term sustainability.
  • 11. Financing Family Businesses – Sources, options, and family wealth management.
  • 12. Barriers and Support for the Development of Family Businesses – National and international context.
Literature
    required literature
  • GRIFFITHS-HAMILTON, Emily. Your business, your family, their future: how to ensure your family enterprise thrives for generations. Vancouver: Figure 1 Publishing. 2018. 183 p. ISBN 978-1-77327-053-1.
  • DE MASSIS, Alfredo a Nadine KAMMERLANDER, ed. Handbook of qualitative research methods for family business. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. Handbooks of research methods in management series. ISBN 978-1-78811-644-2.
  • RAUTIAINEN, Marita, Peter ROSA, Timo PIKHALA, Maria José PARADA a Allan Discua CRUZ, ed. The family business group phenomenon: emergence and complexities. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. 2019. 400 p. ISBN 978-3-319-98541-1.
  • RAMADANI, Veland, Erick P. C. CHANG, Ramo PALALIĆ a Esra MEMILI. Entrepreneurial family businesses: a textbook on innovation, governance, and succession, with case studies. 2. vydání. Cham: Springer, 2024. Springer texts in business and economics. ISBN 9
    recommended literature
  • TAYLOR, L. (2015). The Business of Family: How to Stay Rich for Generations. GB. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • STEENKAMP, Jan-Benedict. Global brand strategy: world-wise marketing in the age of branding. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017. 319 p. ISBN 978-1-349-94994-6.
  • PETRŮ, Naděžda a Andrea TOMÁŠKOVÁ. The preferred usage of equity and debt financing in family businesses: evidence from Czech Republic. Investment Management and Financial Innovations. Ukraine: LLC “Consulting Publishing Company “Business Perspectives”,
  • TOMÁŠKOVÁ, Andrea a Karel HAVLÍČEK. Family Enterprises and their Support through Subsidies. European Research Studies Journal. Piraeus: International Strategic Management Association, 2018, roč. 21, č. 2, s. 23-37. ISSN 1108-2976.
  • PETRŮ, Naděžda, Andrea TOMÁŠKOVÁ a Monika KROŠLÁKOVÁ. Diversification of Export Territories of Family Businesses as a Tool of their Futher Development. Problems and Perspectives in Management. Sumy (Ukraine): LLC “Consulting Publishing Company “Business
    not specified
  • BASCO, Rodrigo. (2023). Family Business Management. 10.4324/9781003273240.
Teaching methods
The course combines multiple interactive teaching methods to provide a rich learning experience. It includes lectures with guided discussions for structured knowledge transfer, analysis of authentic family business case studies, and demonstrations of AI tools such as creating a family constitution or using predictive analytics for succession planning. Students critically reflect on real entrepreneurial experiences through video interviews, develop practical skills by solving tasks and model situations drawn from specific cases, and collaborate on group projects tackling real or simulated family business challenges. They present their projects for peer review, engage in simulations of intergenerational conflict and its resolution, and role-play as a Family Business Board of Directors to make decisions on succession, expansion, and investment. The course concludes with project-based learning as a final assessment, requiring students to develop an independent project supported by real data and analyses, while applying AI and online collaboration tools for proposals and strategic evaluations.
Assessment methods
The course finished with an EXAM (A,B,C,D,E,F,-).
FULL-TIME STUDY: Participation in the exam is tied to the fulfilment of the obligation of seminar paper, attendance is on a voluntary base. EXAM: seminar paper (case study) + oral exam (it will be a relevant discussion about case study). Case study - range of 10 pages, according to the topics of the course).
COMBINED STUDY: Participation in the exam is tied to the fulfilment of the obligation of seminar paper, attendance is on a voluntary base. EXAM: seminar paper (case study) + oral exam (it will be a relevant discussion about the case study). Case study - range of 10 pages, according to the topics of the course). Students with customised study plan CSP (ISP): EXAM: seminar paper (case study) + oral exam (it will be a relevant discussion about case study). Case study - range of 10 pages, according to the topics of the course).
DISTANCE STUDY: EXAM is tied to participation in 2 tutorials online MS Teams). EXAM: seminar paper (case study) + oral exam (it will be a relevant discussion about the case study). Case study - range of 10 pages, according to the topics of the course). If the course will be taught via Microsoft Teams, it is expected that the camera and microphone will be turned on when prompted by the tutor.

Students with customised study plan (ISP): In addition, students will prepare a seminar paper in the scope of 5 pages, a word document. The topic must correspond to the content of the course. The title of the seminar paper must be approved by the course instructor. The seminar work will therefore be 15 pages long (10pp normal + 5pp for ISP). The seminar paper must meet the same requirements as the final thesis; otherwise, it will not be reviewed and you will not be eligible to take the exam. See the seminar paper manual for details.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
https://is.vsfs.cz/auth/el/vsfs/zima2023/BA_SFB/
Dear students,

I have every confidence that this course will provide you with valuable insights, and we will share many inspiring moments throughout our journey together. Please consider the recommended study materials as sources of inspiration and guidance, as they are tailored to offer a foundation.

Remember that each family business, as well as the family behind it, is a unique entity.

I wish you all the best in your successful completion of this course.

ISP students are required to produce one topic (approximately 2 pages of text - each topic) see https://is.vsfs.cz/auth/el/vsfs/zima2024/BA_SFB/Suggestions_for_continuous_preparation_2024.docx. ISP students will upload their individual topics to the IS , where they will create their own folder and upload the files, while others will prepare them for the oral exam. ISP students must produce a 10-page term paper, just like full-time students
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2020, Winter 2021, Winter 2022, Winter 2023, Winter 2024.
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