What is known is a drop.
What is unknown is an ocean.
And the ocean might see the drop very differently than you.

The study of family and business - two very different contexts – requires allowing for multiple perspectives and multiple truths. In the social system of a family there are often as many views as family members. And they change across interactions, situation, & time. 

But each family member, each view, each reality, requires to be fully seen and understood, as relations are the basis.  This understanding may yield contradictory, contextual perspectives. It may entail frictions. Especially when family and business logics diverge. Therefore, family firm research is wholistic and inductive.

But ultimately, family firm research should produce practical recommendations. While allowing for a fluid & adaptive basis of multiplicity & divergence, family firm research must unearth coherences – to move the firm forward. Meanings, which may only exist locally or temporarily, must thus be subjected to the empirical test to find their influence. Therefore, family firm research is positivistic.

Here is an example: The meaning of a family firm's “legacy” is understood very differently across generations. “Legacy” may vary across time & business model. Yet, family firm research seeks to explain the legacy's influence – on family, on strategy, and on firm's performance. Family firm research is thus in a complimentary way multi-paradigmatic & inter-disciplinary.

In line with this, our research group builds bridges that reach the fields of Business Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Information Systems, and Equality & Intercultural Studies. We operate a supercomputer & we carry out in-depth case studies. With treasure quantitative, qualitative, positivist, and inductive research.

We showcase selected ongoing projects. Feel free to reach out if you work on similar topics.