The course is designed to help students better understand the evolution, concept and emergence of family businesses through field visits, case-based analysis and discussion with family business owners. The course covers a wide variety of topics in family businesses like, career planning, ethics, governance, succession and strategic planning, professional support relationships, and survival skills as a son or daughter in a family business. Students will get insights into the past, present and future of family businesses, not only in Saudi Arabia, but globally.

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss the unique aspects of the family business and its social, economic contribution in Saudi Arabia and the world.
2. Illustrate the challenges and opportunities in family businesses.
3. Discuss how family businesses are governed and managed.
4. Recognize the unique challenges, strengths and weaknesses of family businesses.
5. Review succession planning in family businesses, and its various risk factors.
6. Outline how to prepare for and implement change in family businesses.
7. Compare and contrast the various analytical tools and techniques to deal with various family business issues.

1. Prevalence of family businesses in the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
2. Strengths and weaknesses of family businesses
3. Governance of family businesses
4. Corporate Governance and family businesses
5. Strategic Management in family businesses
6. Succession in family businesses
7. Factors which discourage and motivate family successors from joining
8. How to plan the transition of responsibilities
9. Change &adaption in family businesses
10. Upholding change and entrepreneurship
11. Parallel control of several businesses and limited diversification
12. Decision making in family businesses

Poza, E. J. (2014) Family Business. 4^th Edition. Ohio, Cengage publications.

Carlock, R.S. and Ward, J.L. (2001). Strategic planning for the family business: Parallel planning to unify the family and business. London: Palgrave. SECTION 1 – PDF Handout (BB)