Universität Wien
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040096 KU Family Firm Internationalisation (MA) (2026S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 24 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 03.03. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 10.03. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 4 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 17.03. 14:00 - 16:30 Ort in u:find Details
  • Tuesday 24.03. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 14.04. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 21.04. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 28.04. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 12.05. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Tuesday 16.06. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Tuesday 23.06. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course provides students with theoretical frameworks of how to work entrepreneurially and professionally, in and with family firms, and manage effectively the unique challenges that these organizations face when operating in the international context.
Family firms are the most ubiquitous form of business organization globally and the enduring influence of families on business and society is an essential part of the backbone of any world economy. Family businesses are different from any other profit-seeking organization due to the family’s influence on the firm’s strategic goals, governance structures and competitive re-sources. We will consider how aspects such as ownership, succession, sibling rivalry and rela-tionships with non-family members affect the international strategic choices of family firms in terms of entry modes, location choices, strategic partnerships, processes and post-entry dynam-ics. Consistently with its practice-oriented nature, this course will include also guest lectures from family business leaders, consultants and experts, in order to foster interactions between the students and the entrepreneurial community.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Understand the unique strategic and managerial challenges for family firms operating interna-tionally.
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of family firms in the international context.
• Critically appraise how family heterogeneity in terms of family structures, functions, interac-tions and events affect family firm internationalization choices.
• Consider the different strategic drivers of family business behaviour at international level.
• Comprehend how the factors occurring over time to the family and the business affect inter-nationalization process and outcomes.
• Evaluate how contextual factors, such as institutions, market and industry contingencies affect family firm internationalization.

For more information please visit https://international-business.univie.ac.at/studies/master-courses/

Assessment and permitted materials

The evaluation is structured as follows:
• Participation in class discussion (20%)
• Final exam: Open-ended questions covering the whole content of the course (50%)
• Report and Presentation of a Group project - further details will be discussed on lecture 1 (30%)

The final two days for the research project presentation (3rd and 17th June 2025) will take the entire afternoon (check syllabus).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students wishing to take this course must register via u:find/u:space (with points) during the registration period. The maximum number of participants is 50.

Registered students who, for whatever reason, are not able to take the course must de-register electronically. The latest date by which the course can be dropped is 14th of March. Students who decide to drop the course after this deadline will be graded with 5 (failed).

It is absolutely essential that all registered students attend the first session on the 3rd of march (Introduction/Vorbesprechung) as failure to do so will result in their exclusion from the course. Students should also regularly check our homepage and Moodle for any changes in dates/times.

Attendance is compulsory throughout the semester. Absence from two course units is possible. A course unit is a 90-minute session. Further absences will automatically result in a “fail” grade. Attendance is compulsory during assessment.

Grading:
90% - 100% | 1
80% - 89% | 2
70% - 79% | 3
50% - 69% | 4

Examination topics

Exam preparation material.
The study material is based on the following research papers (see reading list). Moreover, at the end of each lesson, slides in .pdf format will also be provided and will be part of the exam preparation material.

Reading list

1. Arregle, J. L., Duran, P., Hitt, M. A., & Van Essen, M. (2017). Why is family firms’ interna-tionalization unique? A meta–analysis. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(5), 801-831.

2. Arregle, J. L., Hitt, M. A., & Mari, I. (2019). A missing link in family firms’ internationaliza-tion research: Family structures. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(5), 809-825.

3. Banalieva, E. R., & Eddleston, K. A. (2011). Home-region focus and performance of family firms: The role of family vs non-family leaders. Journal of International Business Studies, 42(8), 1060-1072.

4. Debellis, F., De Massis, A., Petruzzelli, A. M., Frattini, F., & Del Giudice, M. (2020). Stra-tegic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms. Journal of International Management, 27(1), 100739.

5. Debellis, F., Rondi, E., Plakoyiannaki, E., & De Massis, A. (2021). Riding the waves of fami-ly firm internationalization: A systematic literature review, integrative framework, and research agenda. Journal of World Business, 101-144.

6. Debellis, F., Rondi, E., Buckley, P. J., & De Massis, A. (2024). Family firms and the govern-ance of global value chains. Journal of International Business Studies, 1-14.

7. De Massis, A., Frattini, F., Kotlar, J., Petruzzelli, A. M., & Wright, M. (2016). Innovation through tradition: Lessons from innovative family businesses and directions for future re-search. Academy of Management Perspectives, 30(1), 93-116.

8. Hennart, J. F., Majocchi, A., & Forlani, E. (2019). The myth of the stay-at-home family firm: How family-managed SMEs can overcome their internationalization limitations. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(5), 758-782.

9. Kano, L., Ciravegna, L., & Rattalino, F. (2021). The family as a platform for FSA develop-ment: Enriching new internalization theory with insights from family firm rese-arch. Journal of International Business Studies, 52(1), 148-160.

10. Kano, L., & Verbeke, A. (2018). Family firm internationalization: Heritage assets and the impact of bifurcation bias. Global Strategy Journal, 8(1), 158-183.

11. Rondi, E., Magrelli, V., Debellis, F., & De Massis, A. (2024). The evolution of craft work in the strategic development of a family enterprise. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal.

Optional Reading (book)
Zellweger, T. (2017). Managing the family business: Theory and practice. Edward Elgar Publi-shing.

Association in the course directory

VM0 Wahlpflicht

Last modified: We 04.03.2026 11:45