Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Troyer, David D

Titel

A case study of a family business in succession transition: The Dutch Corporation

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2000

Link zum Volltext

• ProQuest

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This is an action research case study that addresses the development of a structure for communication designed specifically for second and third generation owners of a privately held restaurant, hotel, and gift shop business called The Dutch Corporation. This corporation consists of seven locations, mostly in north central Ohio. The shift in ownership of this corporation began several years ago from three second generation partners to thirteen third generation cousins. This study integrates and utilizes theoretical concepts from the disciplines of conflict mediation, organization development, and family business and presents a model of applying theories from these discourses into practice. It allowed progress toward needed structure through an autonomous process of self-determination as people generated their own ideas and determined together how those ideas would be utilized. Its findings and conclusions can be useful for other family businesses facing similar transitions and various professionals who work with family businesses. An intellectual context was developed through literature and case examples. The literature review covers current thinking by experts in family business. The literature and case examples discuss the unique complexities inherent in family business and clearly support the need for the establishment of a communication structure as a means to avert confusion, manage conflict, and establish a platform for ongoing meaningful dialogue among family members. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals and couples to elicit information and ideas (data) for the structure design. The participants were all family members and direct stakeholders in the corporation. A case record, which included an analysis and description of the data, was developed and distributed to the participants. The data showed much dissatisfaction with current communication and a high degree of support for the development of a family council. Ten nominated participants helped interpret this data in order to formulate recommendations for future action. They recommended the establishment of a family council that would act as a liaison between the family, the board, and operations. The initial family council will include the entire family and will be held in conjunction with the next semi-annual board meeting. A planning committee was immediately appointed.