COMMGMT 7003 - Family Business Fundamentals
North Terrace Campus - Trimester 3 - 2023
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code COMMGMT 7003 Course Family Business Fundamentals Coordinating Unit Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation & Innov Centre Term Trimester 3 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Intensive: 36 hours Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Assessment Individual assignments, quiz Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Chris Graves
Dr. Francesco (Frank) Barbera
The ³ÉÈË´óƬ Business School
Nexus 10, Level 10 (room 10.24)
francesco.barbera@adelaide.edu.au
Ph. (08) 8313 9091
Dr. Barbera is a Senior Lecturer at the ³ÉÈË´óƬ’s Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) and a Co-Director of FBERG. Frank received his Ph.D. in Economics from Bond University while working at the Australian Centre for Family Business. Frank’s research interests encompass a wide range of issues applied to family business, entrepreneurship, small business management, and family business education. Frank’s research has earned him multiple awards, is published in high-level journals such as the Family Business Review, Small Business Economics, and the Academy of Management Learning and Education, and is regularly presented at international conferences and workshops, such as the Family Enterprise Research Conference (FERC), International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) and STEP summits.
Frank’s expertise in the family business field also includes being the former Director of the Family Enterprise Centre at Stetson University, designing and delivering various family business curricula in the USA and Australia, a coach for the Family Enterprise Case Competition (FECC), a Team Leader for Babson College’s Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices (STEP) Project, and serving on the Editorial Board of the Family Business Review.Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Family businesses make a significant contribution to the economic development of national economies around the world. According to latest statistics, most Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are family-controlled businesses. Further the majority of large (public and private) firms are either directly or indirectly family owned and/or controlled. Therefore it is important to have an understanding of the issues facing these firms as well as the ability to apply theory in order to make sense of these issues.
As a consequence, on successful completion of this course students will be able to …
1. Explain and utilize the case study method, including:
a. Analysing case studiesi. Active readingii. Critical thinkingiii. Problem solvingb. Discussing case studiesi. Forming an argumentii. Public speakingiii. How to write about case studiesc. Writing case based essays
2. Describe and apply family business theories and frameworks, such as:
a. Systems theoryb. The Resource Based Viewc. Agency theoryd. Stewardship perspectivee. Socio-Emotional Wealthf. Integrative Model of Succession3. Identify and analyze family business case issues:
Students will be exposed to multiple types of family business cases so as to create a wealth of experience, knowledge and ability to recognize common issues and apply theoretical models. These issues represent common opportunieis and challeneges that family firms face, such as:
a. Family business governanceb. Strategic planningc. Successiond. Entrepreneurship and business renewal
4. Synthesize knowledge and prescribe solutions through oral presentations:
Working in teams, students will become highly skilled in public speaking, presentations and visual aid creation. The course will focus on presentations of analysis and recommendations consistent with both professional family business consultancy and case presentations within the academic setting.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2 & 3 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2 & 3 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2,3 & 4 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
3 & 4 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
a) There are two primary textbook resources which are required for this course:
1. William Ellet (2007). The Case Study Handbook: How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases. (Harvard Business Press) – Free access through MyUni.
2. Poza & Daugherty (2014). Family Business. (South-Western Cengage Learning) – Ebook available for purchase though Cengage (link posted on MyUni).
Textbooks will be available for purchase. Alternatively you can purchase an e-book version of the text at a significantly discounted rate. The e-book version has the following features:
 Available on your laptop, smartphone, tablet or online
 Use the search function to locate key concepts
b) Academic readings: Many of the readings for this course have been taken from academic sources. These are listed in the detailed course timetable (page 8 of the course booklet). Rather than students having to purchase these texts (or borrow and photocopy the relevant sections from the library), electronic copies of these readings are available for download from the course’s MyUni website.
c) Case studies – in order for students to get a realistic experience in the issues facing family businesses, this course utilizes multiple case studies. These are listed in the detailed course timetable (page 8 of the course booklet booklet). Rather than students having to purchase these cases, electronic copies are available for download from the course’s MyUni website.Recommended Resources
Other reading resources which students may find useful include:
• Au, Craig, & Ramachandran (2011). Family Enterprise In The Asia Pacific (Edward Elgar Publishing).
• Sorenson, Yu, Brigham, & Lumpkin (2013). The Landscape Of Family Business (Edward Elgar Publishing).
• Esteban Brenes (2011). Understanding Entrepreneurial Family Businesses in Uncertain Environments (Edward Elgar Publishing).
• Sharma, Nason, & Sieger (2013). Exploring Transgenerational Entrepreneurship (Edward Elgar Publishing).
• Nordqvist & Zellweger (2011) Transgenerational Entrepreneurship (Edward Elgar Publishing).Online Learning
Please make sure to check the course’s MyUni website regularly as this will be the main method in which I communicate to students and make additional information and resources available. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
No information currently available.
Workload
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Learning Activities Summary
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
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Assessment Detail
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Submission
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Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
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- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
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- Intellectual Property Policy
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- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
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- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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