Business School
Research projects
Family Business Research Group (FBRG) members are actively involved in a number of research areas.
EMA funded research
To assist in addressing these research projects the EMA has generously provided funding to support family business research through student scholarships and the development of family business case studies. The total funding by the EMA is $139,000 for the period 2006–2010. This funding is matched by Tertiary Enterprise Scholarships.
Case studies
A number of case studies have been written and are now being published in the public domain. The purpose of these case studies is to build a repertoire of teaching cases pivoting around family business that can be used both within the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as family business workshops/seminars for family members of such businesses. Collectively the cases will also be used to inform theory.
Case histories
To date four case histories have been written which capture the history of the business, critical events along the life cycle, highlight the inter-generational nature of the family businesses and focus on specific issues or challenges facing each of the various businesses profiled. Eventually these cases will be published in either case books or relevant journals.
1. Ashburton Guardian and Ashburton Print: Owner Bruce Bell.
2. Carr Agriculture: Owner Craig Carr.
3. Pacific Wide: Owner Anthony Washington.
4. NZ Sock Company: Owner Euan Sparrow.
Three more case histories are currently in draft format and will be completed for teaching and research purposes over the coming months.
5. Prolife: Owner Bernie Crosby.
6. Proform: Owner Tony Smith.
7. Roadcraft : Owner John Managh.
The Family Business Research Group has a number of students actively engaged in research in this area.
Current students
| PhD | Topic |
|---|---|
| Paul Woodfield | Intergenerational entrepreneurship in family business. |
| Michelle Kilkolly-Proffit | A comparative investigation of gender, succession, and working relationships in growth oriented small and medium family businesses in New Zealand. |
| Henry Shi | Second-generation private entrepreneurship and small family business in mainland China. |
| Rebecca Hirsch | Governance guidelines for family business. |
| Masters | Topic |
|---|---|
| Gunnar Lubahn | Organisational citizenship behaviour in family businesses. |
| Lisa Jansen | Strategic decision-making in family businesses. |
| Dissertation | Topic |
|---|---|
| Sonali Nidamarty | Family business and the resources-based view. |
Previous students
| Masters | Topic |
|---|---|
| 2009: Jo Overall | Governance in SME family business. |
| Honours dissertation | Topic |
| 2008: Summer Brines | Family business innovation: What does a complex adaptive systems perspective have to offer? |
| 2007: Helen Nicolson | The use of external business advice by entrepreneurial New Zealand family businesses. |
