The Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand at WHU (ifbm@WHU) is a thought leader in the field of family business and small and medium-sized enterprises. With a dedicated team of scholars and practitioners, we aim to study different aspects of family firms, hidden champions as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. Our most current research projects, for instance, aim to advance our understanding of innovation, leadership and employee satisfaction, succession, inertia, business ethics and financing of family firms as well as family offices.
But creating new insights is not enough. We also strive to discuss, transfer, and extend those insights in discussions with practitioners. This works out best by maintaining a continuous dialogue amongst scholars and practitioners. Our aim is to generate impact for family businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises on a regional, national and international level.
Das Institut für Familienunternehmen und Mittelstand der WHU (ifbm@WHU) ist ein Vordenker im Bereich der Familienunternehmen und des Mittelstandes. Wir sind ein engagiertes Team von Wissenschaftlern und Praktikern und untersuchen verschiedene Aspekte von Familienunternehmen, Hidden Champions sowie kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen. Unsere aktuellen Forschungsprojekte zielen beispielsweise darauf ab, unser Verständnis von Innovation, Führung und Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit, Nachfolge, Untätigkeit, Geschäftsethik und Finanzierung von Familienunternehmen sowie Family Offices zu vertiefen.
Wir führen kontinuierlichen Dialog mit Unternehmen aus der Praxis, diskutieren die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse, um sie in Wissenschaft und Praxis zu übertragen und zu erweitern. Unser Ziel ist es, auf regionaler, nationaler und internationaler Ebene positive Wirkung für Familienunternehmen sowie kleine und mittlere Unternehmen zu erreichen.
The Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand at WHU (ifbm@WHU) is a thought leader in the field of family business and small and medium-sized enterprises. With a dedicated team of scholars and practitioners, we aim to study different aspects of family firms, hidden champions as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. Our most current research projects, for instance, aim to advance our understanding of innovation, leadership and employee satisfaction, succession, inertia, business ethics and financing of family firms as well as family offices.
But creating new insights is not enough. We also strive to discuss, transfer, and extend those insights in discussions with practitioners. This works out best by maintaining a continuous dialogue amongst scholars and practitioners. Our aim is to generate impact for family businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises on a regional, national and international level.
Future of family firms
Disruption. Transformation. Resilience.
Get in touch with us –
We look forward to hearing from you.
Professor Dr. Christina Günther
Chairholder, Chair of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
+49 (0)261 6509 295
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All members of the Chair of Family Business and the Chair of Small and Medium Sized Business support the Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand.
Would you like to support us?
You can become our partner for
- the Chair of Family Business
- the Chair of Small and Medium Sized Businesses
- a project
- the WHU Campus for Family Business
Contact us for further information
*Please note that no donation receipt will be issued for donations up to an amount of €100.00. These can be recognized by the tax authorities even without receipts, provided that a list of expenses and the recipient is enclosed (e.g. booking confirmation from the bank as proof).
WHU Campus for Family Business
How can future generations be enthused for the own family business? How can a successful internationalisation be achieved? And how well are our hidden champions prepared for the digital transformation?
The goal of the WHU Campus for Family Business is to transfer and discuss new findings from science and practice with keynotes and interactive workshops.
WHU Campus for Family Business
How can future generations be enthused for the own family business? How can a successful internationalisation be achieved? And how well are our hidden champions prepared for the digital transformation?
The goal of the WHU Campus for Family Business is to transfer and discuss new findings from science and practice with keynotes and interactive workshops.
Contributing to cutting edge research –
Take a look at some of our publications.
As part of its research activities, the Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand publishes research papers containing the results of extensive theoretical research supplemented by interviews with experts and surveys. The studies are compact summaries of large, explorative Empran surveys among family entrepreneurs.