Witten Institute for Family Business - Wifu

Current Events

Visiting professors from the UK and Switzerland at the Witten Institute for Family Business (7/26/10)

With the appointment of Prof. Dr. Peter Rosa and Prof. Dr. Thomas Zellweger the Witten Institute for Family Business (WIFU) strengthens its position in family business in the international research community. For several years the institute works with both professors during the research project STEP (Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices). The WIFU is one of the six founding members.

Recent study about management structures in family firms shows: the mix ist making it! (7/12/10)

A nationwide study of the Witten Institute for Family Business (WIFU) comes to the conclusion that one of three long-lived family businesses in Germany is led together by owners and other managers.

New course of study: Master in Family Business Management (6/8/10)

Since October 2010 the University of Witten/Herdecke offers, under the Witten Institute for Family Business, a unique master program in the management of family enterprises: the Master in Family Business Management (M. Sc.).
Apply now.

WIFU in the press

Family businesses (7/20/10)

According to a study of the Witten Institute for Family Business there is a connection between the size of a family business and the question of whether this is led by external managers. Personalpraxis24.de writes about this.

Stranger in the house (7/15/10)

Stranger in the house
The mistrust of family businesses to external managers is degrading, how a study of the Witten Institute for Family Business shows. The „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ writes about this subject.

Extern managers push family businesses (7/14/10)

Every third family company is led jointly by the owners and extern managers. This is the result of a study of the Witten Institute for Family Business. The „Kurier“ writes about this.

The mix of family and knowledge makes it (7/14/10)

More and more family businesses pick up managers from the outside, said Dr. Tom Rüsen of Witten Institute for Family Business. A resulting problem may be the loss of the tradition of the company. „Der Westen“ writes about this.

Too much tradition, too little future (7/12/10)

Family companies with a long tradition sometimes have the problem that difficulties remain undetected too long or do not want to be seen. Many problems are selfmade. Most deadly are family conflicts who are brought into the business, so Dr. Tom Rüsen of Witten Institute for Family Business. The WIR Magazin writes about this.

Consequences of the economic crisis on family business (6/7/10)

The economic crisis in family businesses is not only a problam of the company but also of the family. An integrated crisis management system can help. Dr. Tom A. Rüsen of Witten Institute for Family Business conducted a interview with the magazine psychotherapy.

Balance Modernisation (6/7/10)

The law for balance modernization („Bilanzmodernisierungsgesetz“) could be a a great opportunity for family businesses. There are some implicit discretions available. Thilo Pukall from Witten Institute for Family Business writes thereof in the current issue of the magazine entrepreneur.

Equity Increase (6/7/10)

If a family company needs new money it can be get with a equity increase. For that all partners have to go together. If not all want or can do this, there percentage of vot can be changed, which can burden the family. The magazine Impulse reported on this issue.

What the foreigner are doing here? (6/7/10)

Family businesses prefer leaders from their own ranks and take only reluctantly-family CEO. Nevertheless, an other manager can often be a better solution than their own offspring. The magazine Impulse reports on this issue.

Succession is a matter of honor (6/7/10)

Succession is an honor for family businesses. But often it ends in a dispute between the siblings, who have to divide the succession among themselves. Impulse writes about this.

First the family members get a job (5/16/10)

In family businesses, there are different systems. While in the family mostly the elder is highest on the rank, in the company it ist he one with the highest position. Professor Arist v. Schlippe and Dr. Tom Rüsen from the Witten Institute for Family Business report on this conflict in the Handelsblatt.

Family businesses – determination of a type (5/7/10)

Markus Plate of the Institute for Family Business has published an article about entrepreneurs in family businesses and their characteristics in the Unternehmermagazin. He explains the nature of family businesses and how they can be defined.

Family businesses have their own laws (4/20/10)

In many areas family entrepreneurs think differently. If you wish to understand them, you have to deal with the topic very precisely. The newly published book "Understanding family businesses” can help this. Professor Simon and Professor Wimmer from the Witten Institute for Family Business are quoted for it in the Financial Times Germany.

Information about Family Businesses

3rd Index of countries of the Foundation family business

The Foundation of family business has published its third Country Index family business. The study is published each second year and compares the situation of family businesses in several selected countries.

IFRS for SME

The biggest reform of commercial accounting in Germany, the BilMoG was passed in the spring of last year. Shortly later the publication of the IFRS-SME came, which is designed for non-publicly traded companies. What next? What is binding? What does the accounting under IFRS-SME means for family businesses? Does a family business need that international accounting policy? Is the body empowered to create rule-setting rules? The foundation of the family business and the VMBEF have created a study for that.

The dynasty

The question of the succession is one of the most important issues for family businesses. But it is one of the most difficult things fort hem to regulate this. For this, the various constructs were developed and partly copied from family dynasties. The Handelsblatt writes about this.

In the Shadow of the Patriarch

Although children of family business grow up with many privileges, they fail in following as the successor. Die ?Welt am Sonntag? reported that subject.

Analysis of the structure and the balance ratio of the largest family businesses in Germany

Large family businesses give an important contribution to the economy in Germany. The Deutsche Bank and the BDI have created a structural study on this. The consultant of the business writes on this subject.

Familial bonds are stronger than the DAX

Studies show that long-term family businesses do better than extern-guided businesses, so the ARD Börse. A factor of success is the wide view on the long-term development.