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040152 KU Family Firm Internationalisation (MA) (2025W)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
If you have questions concerning this course, please write to martina.roth@univie.ac.at
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).
- Registration is open from Mo 08.09.2025 09:00 to We 17.09.2025 12:00
- Registration is open from We 24.09.2025 09:00 to Th 25.09.2025 12:00
- Deregistration possible until Tu 14.10.2025 23:59
Details
max. 50 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Tuesday 07.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 14.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 28.10. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 18.11. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 25.11. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 02.12. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 6 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Tuesday 09.12. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 13.01. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 20.01. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
- Tuesday 27.01. 16:45 - 20:00 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
The evaluation is structured as follows:• Participation in class discussion (20%)
• Final exam (50%)
• Report and Presentation of a Group project - details will be discussed on lecture 1 (30%)
• Final exam (50%)
• Report and Presentation of a Group project - details will be discussed on lecture 1 (30%)
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
A minimum of 50 percent of the points needs to be attained overall to pass the course. The grading system is as follows:
90% - 100% | 1
80% - 89% | 2
70% - 79% | 3
50% - 69% | 4It is absolutely essential that all registered students attend the first session on October 7th (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 or way of connecting online.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 (e.g. final exam, presentations etc.).
90% - 100% | 1
80% - 89% | 2
70% - 79% | 3
50% - 69% | 4It is absolutely essential that all registered students attend the first session on October 7th (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 or way of connecting online.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 (e.g. final exam, presentations etc.).
Examination topics
The exam will cover the content of all lectures held in class, including the guest lecture.
Reading list
Exam preparation material.
The study material is based on the following research papers which will be available on moodle. Moreover, at the end of each lesson, slides in .pdf format will also be provided and will be part of the exam preparation material.
1. Arregle, J. L., Duran, P., Hitt, M. A., & Van Essen, M. (2017). Why is family firms’ internation-alization 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’ internationalization 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). Strategic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms. Jour-nal of International Management, 27(1), 100739.
5. Debellis, F., Rondi, E., Plakoyiannaki, E., & De Massis, A. (2021). Riding the waves of family 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 governance of global value chains. Journal of International Business Studies, 1-14.
7. 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 In-ternational Business Studies, 50(5), 758-782.
8. Kano, L., Ciravegna, L., & Rattalino, F. (2021). The family as a platform for FSA development: Enriching new internalization theory with insights from family firm research. Journal of Inter-national Business Studies, 52(1), 148-160.
9. Kano, L., & Verbeke, A. (2018). Family firm internationalization: Heritage assets and the im-pact of bifurcation bias. Global Strategy Journal, 8(1), 158-183.
10. 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 (books)
De Massis A & Rondi E. (2024). The Family Business Book. A roadmap for entrepreneurial families to prosper across generations. Pearson Financial Times Series, Harlow, United Kingdom.
Zellweger, T. (2017). Managing the family business: Theory and practice. Edward Elgar Publishing.
The study material is based on the following research papers which will be available on moodle. Moreover, at the end of each lesson, slides in .pdf format will also be provided and will be part of the exam preparation material.
1. Arregle, J. L., Duran, P., Hitt, M. A., & Van Essen, M. (2017). Why is family firms’ internation-alization 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’ internationalization 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). Strategic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms. Jour-nal of International Management, 27(1), 100739.
5. Debellis, F., Rondi, E., Plakoyiannaki, E., & De Massis, A. (2021). Riding the waves of family 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 governance of global value chains. Journal of International Business Studies, 1-14.
7. 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 In-ternational Business Studies, 50(5), 758-782.
8. Kano, L., Ciravegna, L., & Rattalino, F. (2021). The family as a platform for FSA development: Enriching new internalization theory with insights from family firm research. Journal of Inter-national Business Studies, 52(1), 148-160.
9. Kano, L., & Verbeke, A. (2018). Family firm internationalization: Heritage assets and the im-pact of bifurcation bias. Global Strategy Journal, 8(1), 158-183.
10. 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 (books)
De Massis A & Rondi E. (2024). The Family Business Book. A roadmap for entrepreneurial families to prosper across generations. Pearson Financial Times Series, Harlow, United Kingdom.
Zellweger, T. (2017). Managing the family business: Theory and practice. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Tu 07.10.2025 11:46
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 resources. We will consider how aspects such as ownership, succession, sibling rivalry and relationships 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 dynamics. 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 internationally.
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of family firms in the international context.
• Critically appraise how family heterogeneity in terms of family structures, functions, interactions 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 internationalization process and outcomes.
• Evaluate how contextual factors, such as institutions, market and industry contingencies affect family firm internationalization.See more details here: https://international-business.univie.ac.at/studies/master-courses/