Research Framework

SCOPE OF THE IFB RESEARCH FOUNDATION’S RESEARCH

The scope of IFBRF research is to analyse and understand family-owned businesses of all sizes, their impact on UK economy and society, and the challenges that they face. The charity’s research focuses on five main areas:

1. DEFINING AND CHARACTERISING FAMILY BUSINESSES
• Understanding family firm diversity and what makes them different from non-family owned firms – for example, identifying what makes family businesses different in terms of their purpose, values and goals; ownership and governance arrangements; and how they manage generational transitions.

2. THE EXPERIENCE OF BUSINESS FAMILIES
• To understand the experience of business families and the impact of different types of business family on the business(es) they control/own: for example, family governance and leadership; social dynamics of business families; the influence of family culture and history; diversity and heterogeneity among business families.

3. THE EFFECTS OF FAMILY OWNERSHIP ON THE BUSINESS
• Understanding the effects of family ownership on governance, strategy, entrepreneurship, management and performance.
• Identifying the factors that influence the success and long-term sustainability of family businesses, and developing evidence-based solutions to the challenges that they face.

4. THE IMPACT OF FAMILY BUSINESSES ON THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
• Identifying and assessing the impact of family businesses on the economy and society.

5. THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY ON FAMILY BUSINESS
• Analysing and evaluating how Government policies affect family businesses.