2024-2025 / GEST3782-1

Introduction to family business entrepreneurship

Duration

18h Th

Number of credits

 Master in management, teaching focus3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in Banking and Asset Management3 crédits 
 Master in management engineering, professional focus in digital business3 crédits 
 Master in business engineering, professional focus in Financial Engineering3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in Financial Analysis and Audit3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in global supply chain management3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in Intrapreneurship and Management of Innovation Projects3 crédits 
 Master in business engineering, professional focus in Intrapreneurship and Management of Innovation Projects3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in international strategic marketing3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in social and sustainable enterprise management3 crédits 
 Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en management des organisations et dynamiques sociales3 crédits 
 Master in management, professional focus in strategy and human resource management3 crédits 
 Master in management engineering, professional focus in sustainable performance management3 crédits 
 Master in business engineering, professional focus in Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics3 crédits 
 Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en management des entreprises sociales et Transition3 crédits 
 Master in business engineering, professional focus in science and technology3 crédits 

Lecturer

Raphaëlle Mattart

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The objective of this elective course is to raise Master's students' awareness of the specificities of family businesses and their management. In Belgium and Europe, family businesses represent over 70% of enterprises. Their management is unique and involves significant interactions between the family and professional/entrepreneurial spheres, as well as issues related to governance and succession.

During the 6 sessions, these particularities will be addressed and illustrated. Each class will include mandatory readings of scientific articles (in French and/or English) that will allow for a deeper understanding of the theoretical concepts discussed and enrich classroom discussions. Most sessions will be followed by testimonies or lectures given by specialists in family businesses or family entrepreneurs. Additionally, videos may be presented and analyzed in relation to the theoretical content, and will be part of the course material.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

These classes enable students to get a better understanding of the realities of a family enterprise and of its specific challenges.

The ultimate goal is twofold: 1. Acquainting students with this type of enterprise, which they may be managing/taking over in the future, 2. Providing them with theoretical knowledge and concrete recommendations for the management and succession of a family business  

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

a command of the basics of management (marketing, finance, accountancy, HRM, logistics, etc.) (Master level) 

Minimum passive English proficiency

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mandatory preliminary readings of one or more scientific articles/reports

Theoretical sessions ex cathedra

Participatory method with students: questions, dialogue with students, practical application

Testimonies/lectures from entrepreneurs and experts

Slide support

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

in-person lecturing, readings and preparations 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- LOL@


Further information:

Before each course, scientific readings will be compulsory and will also be considered as examination material.

the readings will be communicated before the beginning of the course. 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Further information:

The written exam accounts for 100% of the evaluation. One part will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), while the other part will consist of open-ended reflection questions covering the entire course material.




It is also possible to undertake a fieldwork project instead of the written exam. This project will focus on how the next generation instills sustainable organizational change and seeks to have an impact on society. Students will be required to conduct 5 interviews with Next Gen members who have taken over or are about to take over the management of their family business. A report of about fifteen pages, including annexes with the transcriptions, will be expected. Only 6 students will be selected. Interested candidates must send a cover letter (max 1 page), a description of the family businesses and the members to be interviewed (max 1 page), as well as a CV (max. 1 page), by October 31, 2024, to raphaelle.mattart@uliege.be. Selections will be communicated in November. For any questions, you can also write to me at this address.

It is important to note that these modalities are mutually exclusive, and if the candidate student is selected for the fieldwork, they are required to complete it as an evaluation method.



 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Class attendance is compulsory

Contacts

Course holder: 

- Raphaëlle Mattart
Raphaelle.Mattart@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs