Sustainability in the Family Firm - Q3

Participation Prerequisites

No course prerequisites required for participation.

Course Content

This course explores the role of family firms in the global sustainability transformation. Family firms are not only economically dominant, but also central actors in addressing today’s environmental and social challenges. Due to their long-term orientation, legacy focus, and socioemotional wealth, family firms often approach sustainability differently than non-family firms: sometimes more ambitiously, sometimes more cautiously.

In this course, we will investigate how family firms balance tradition and transformation, and what drives their sustainability strategies in practice. We will discuss both opportunities (e.g., stewardship, multi-generational thinking, strong values) and challenges (e.g., path dependencies, conflicts across generations, pressure for legitimacy).

You will also learn about:

• Foundations of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in family businesses
• The role of legacy, family reputation, and prestige in shaping sustainability commitments
• Corporate citizenship and community engagement in family firms
• Succession dynamics and how Next Gens drive sustainability and green innovation
• Stewardship and longevity as core philosophies for sustainable impact

Intended Learning Outcomes and Competencies

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand how and why sustainability takes a distinct form in family firms
• Explain the role of values, identity, and socioemotional wealth in sustainability decisions
• Evaluate differences in sustainability strategies between family and non-family firms
• Analyze challenges associated with succession and Next Gen influence in green transformation
• Develop recommendations for sustainability-oriented transformation in family firms

Instruction Type

☒ Presence
☐ Online synchronous
☐ Online self-paced
☐ Hybrid

Form of Examination

Literature

Required readings will be provided via Moodle.