Accounting Section 1 Office Hours Tuesdays 24 Pm Section Introduction

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Section 1

Introduction and Course Syllabus

About This Manual

This instructor’s manual is designed to be used with Family Business, Third Edition,

by Ernesto J. Poza. It was prepared with the dual objective of reducing preparation time

and making your teaching more effective.

The manual is divided into two sections:

Course Syllabus

The sample syllabus offered below summarizes course contents, class organization,

and both written and reading assignments. Because different schools have different

practices regarding syllabi, use this sample only as a reference for creating your own.

Managing the Family-Owned, Family-Controlled Corporation

Monday 6:00-9:15 pm

Fall 2013

Instructor:

Office:

Phone:

E-Mail:

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2-4 PM

Purpose and Scope of the Course

2 Section 1 Introduction and Course Syllabus

Family controlled businesses (both private and publicly-traded) are characterized

by unique challenges that threaten their distinct core competencies; capabilities created

by the founding entrepreneur that are still the source of idiosyncratic and sustainable

competitive advantages. The challenges are primarily the result of issues presented by the

interaction of family, management and ownership — particularly where the family

Assignments

Textbook: Ernesto J. Poza, Family Business 4e, Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage

Learning Publishers, 2013.

All case assignments will be written and turned in at the beginning of the class.

Within 2-3 pages, you are asked to designate the decisions and/or actions you would take

Reference Books

Kelin Gersick, Generation to Generation, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press,

1997.

Section 1 Introduction and Course Syllabus 3

Team Consulting or Case Projects

Consulting or Case Projects on your own family business are welcome. These

may be individual or team ventures depending on access and privacy considerations. But

team projects are highly recommended because of the objectivity that nonfamily

Grades

The written and in-class case analyses will represent 30% of the grade. Class

participation will account for 20% and the final 50% will either be the team consulting or

case project mentioned above or a special research project. Grades on written work will

be recorded as:

Outstanding A

Changes

There may well be changes in this schedule and assignments. If you should miss a class it is

4 Section 1 Introduction and Course Syllabus

CLASS SCHEDULE

September 13 Session 1: THE FAMILY BUSINESS: WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE

Assigned Reading: Family Business 4e, Chapter 1.

Introduction to Objectives and Experiences of Class Members & Faculty.

September 20 Session 2: AGENCY, RESOURCE AND FAMILY SYSTEMS

THEORY

Assigned Reading: Family Business 4e, Chapter 2.

Case: The Ferré Media Group. Read the case and prepare a 2-page paper

highlighting the best practices used and the similarities and differences with the

Suggested Readings:

1. Schulze, William, et. al., Exploring the Agency Consequences of Ownership

September 27 Session 3: THE OWNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE

Assigned Reading: Family Business 4e, Chapter 3.

Assignment: Write a 2 page paper making a recommendation for the appropriate

ownership structure of your family business in your generation. Support your

October 4 Session 4: SUCCESSION PROCESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING

Section 1 Introduction and Course Syllabus 5

Assigned Reading: Family Business 4e, Chapters 6, 7, 8.

Case: The Cousins Tournament. Read the case and prepare a 1-page critique of

the current situation. If you were a consultant to Grandview Industries, what

October 11 Session 5: THE GOVERNANCE CHALLENGE & DIAGNOSING THE

FAMILY BUSINESS

Assigned Reading: Family Business 4e, Chapters 4 & 5.

Status Report on Team Consulting or Case Projects

October 18 Session 6: THE FAMILY OWNED COMPANY LIVE CASE

Special Guest Speaker: Michael Zuieback, President, Discount Tire, Phoenix, AZ.

November 1 Session 7: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF FAMILY & BUSINESS

Case: Fastener’s for Retail. Read the case and prepare a 2 page paper highlighting

best practices used and speculating on what you believe is likely to happen in this

November 8 Session 8: GLOBAL ESTATE & TAX PLANNING FOR CONTINUITY

Special Guest Speaker: Garrett McKnight, Northern Trust, Phoenix, AZ.

Assigned Reading: Family Business 4e, Chapters 11 & 12.

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