Team Family business

The interdisciplinary Family Business Research Group at the University of Mannheim has been dedicated to independent family business research for over 30 years. We combine internationally visible expertise from the fields of organisation, sociology, psychology, information systems and entrepreneurship. We contribute our expertise in international research, in an advisory capacity at EU, federal and state ministerial level, in university teaching and in knowledge and transfer events for family entrepreneurs and practitioners.

Research Focus

Succession
  • Family CEO Successors
  • Transgenerational orientation 
  • Family dynamics
Corporate management
  • Strategy development and leadership
  • CEO attributes and biases
  • Ownership structures
  • Leadership and governance
Success factors
  • Post-succession performance
  • Innovation & Development
  • Crisis management 
  • Corporate change 

News from the department


Contact person

PD Dr. habil. Jan-Philipp Ahrens

Prof. Dr. Jan-Philipp Ahrens

PD Dr. habil., University of Mannheim
Transferbeauftragte
Head of Family Business Research
University of Mannheim
Chair of SME Research and Entrepreneurship
Schloss, EO 281 – Room EO 281
68161 Mannheim