Toward a Typology of Family Business Systems

  • John A. Davis
Chapter
Part of the A Family Business Publication book series (AFBP)

Abstract

While all family business systems can be described using the Three-Circle Model (see Figure 6.1), they also vary enormously. Family businesses range from the smallest and simplest to the largest and most complex businesses. Business families range from small, closely related groups to large, distantly related clans. Family business ownership groups can involve one person to hundreds of family members, have a mix of active and passive owners, and be privately held or publicly owned. The combinations of various business, family, and ownership types produce a potentially huge number of different kinds of family business systems. There are, of course, other ways to characterize family business systems. Family companies include the youngest to the oldest businesses on the planet. They are found in every corner of the world and in virtually every industry.

Keywords

Family Operator Family Firm Family Business Vote Share Family Owner 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© John A. Davis 2008

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  • John A. Davis

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