Family Business Dynamics in Unpredictable Contexts
Description
The third volume of the Contemporary Issues in Family Business Entrepreneurship series addresses how family businesses respond to and are shaped by unpredictable and highly complex contexts. As societies and markets move beyond the stable paradigms of the past, family enterprises face new types of uncertainty - driven by technological disruption, geopolitical shifts, environmental crises, and social transformation. These dynamics not only challenge strategic decision-making but also test the very structure, continuity, and identity of family-run firms. While resilience and transformation were the key themes of previous volumes, this edition focuses on how complexity and disorder unfold in real-world family business settings - and how such firms can adapt without losing their core values and long-term orientation. Drawing on systems theory, complexity science, organizational behavior, and entrepreneurship research, the volume provides a multi-dimensional understanding of how family businesses can manage, embrace, and even thrive in unpredictability. Contributions include theoretical, conceptual, and empirical chapters addressing topics such as succession, emotional dynamics, strategic leadership, resilience, innovation, and organizational transformation. In addition to academic perspectives, practitioner-oriented insights and case studies will enhance the practical relevance of this book.
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Persons
Stefan Märk , is program director and professor at the University of Applied Science in Puch/Urstein (Salzburg). His main research areas are the succession process and alternative approaches within the family business area. Furthermore, he works with start-ups an intrapreneurs as well. Future research topics are related to AI and Human Interactions in combination with serendipity and coincidence circumstances. By working as a consultant, he is always on the run to transform practical into academic knowledge and back.
Mario Situm is Program Director and Professor at FH Kufstein Tirol, where he is active in research and teaching. His academic work focuses on corporate crisis and insolvency prediction, risk management, corporate finance, family businesses, and strategic management, with a strong emphasis on applied and empirical research. Alongside his academic career, he has extensive professional experience in banking, financial services, and real estate, including management and advisory roles. In addition, he works as an independent consultant, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic and financial matters.