Duration
18h Th
Number of credits
| Master in management (120 ECTS) | 3 crédits | |||
| Master in business engineering (120 ECTS) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course aims at acquainting Master students with the particularities of family enterprises and with their management. These, in the practice as in the literature, are recognized as making up a majority in Belgium and Europe and requiring specific management (family and professional/entrepreneurial sphere, governance, transmission, etc.).
These particularities are dealt with and illustrated in class.
Theoretical classes are followed up by lectures given by experts on family entreprises or by family entrepreneurs. Video documents are proposed and analysed on the basis with reference to the theoretical data.
Referring to recent publications concerning family entreprises in Belgium and abroad, the following issues and notions a.o. are dealt with:
- What is a family enterprise (FE)?
- The family enterprise as a system: towards a balance between enterprise, family and individuals?
- What are the 'oils' faciliating the the functioning of the system (strategy, communication, charter, system overcharge, external CEO, values etc.)
- Communication (what are the taboos within the family, within the company? how to communicate for the best? how to characterize communication within a family company?)
- the governance of a family enterprise
- transmission (how to prepare and manage the transmission of a family enterprise)? Managerial, financial, legal and specific psychological aspects will be underlined and discussed as well as the pros and cons of a possible external manager.
- What is the place of women in family enterprises?
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
These classes enable students to get a better understanding of the realities of a family enterprise and of its specific challenges.
The ultimate goal is twofold: 1. acquainting students with this type of enterprise, which they may be managing/taking over in the future 2. providing them with concrete recommendations for the management and succession of a FE.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
a command of the basics of management (marketing, finance, accountancy, HRM, logistics, etc.) (Master level)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
prepared readings, summaries and applications of articles/scientific reports per group of students
theoretical classes
practical situations (questions, discussions)
several illustrations and examples
input from enterpreneurs and experts
a case study relating to a family enterprise
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
in-person lecturing, readings and preparations
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Recommended or required readings
- annual research reports published by the Institute for Family Enterprises
- suggested articles such as:
Astrachan, J. H., & McMillan, K. S. (2003). Conflict and communication in the family business. Family Enterprise Publishers: Family Business Leadership Series, 16.
Chrisman, J. Chua J. and Sharma, P. (2003), Current trends and future directions in family business management studies : toward a theory of the family firm, 2003 Coleman White Paper series.
Eddleston, K. et Kellermanns, F. (2007), Destructive and productive family relationships: A stewardship theory perspective, Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 22, n°4, pp.545-565.
Pieper, T. M. (2010), Non solus: Toward a psychology of family business. Journal of Family Business Strategy 1, 26-39
Sasse, C. (2007), Les 7 règles d'or de la transmission de l'entreprise familiale, Anthémis. 159 pages.
Sharma, P., Chrisman, J.J., & Chua, J.H. (1996). A review and annotated bibliography of family business studies. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
assessment:
- final oral exam : 70%
- class attendance and participation: 15%
- written work based on guest speakers' Q&A: 15%
overall assessment criteria (communicated to the students):
- rigour and analytical exhaustivity
- structure and quality of the presentations
- relevance to the course inputs
- concrete illustrations
- originality
- compliance with the given instructions
A group of 8-10 students will have the opportunity (selection based on motivation) to prepare a report in collaboration with the activities of the Family Business Chair at HEC Liege. This will replace the oral exam (70% of the final grade). These students will be in contact with key actors in the family business world.
Assessment criteria
- rigour and analytical exhaustivity
- structure and quality of the presentations
- proactivity
- originality
- compliance with the given instructions
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Class attendance is compulsory
Contacts
Titulaires :
Nathalie Crutzen : ncrutzen@ulg.ac.be
Laurent Weerts : lweerts@deloitte.com
Coordination/Adm. :
Nathalie Marly (Collaboratrice scientifique ULg) : Nathalie.Marly@ulg.ac.be