Krisenursachen, Sanierungsmaßnahmen und Krisenbewältigung in Familienunternehmen: Empirische Befunde aus einer multiplen Fallstudie und Empfehlungen für die Unternehmenspraxis

Family firms (FFs) have an ambivalent character with respect to crises. On the one hand, problems in the family environment and a lack of innovative capacity are considered to be causes of crises; on the other hand, flexible decision-making processes and family commitment are associated with positive impacts on the course of crises. This article analyses empirically the causes of crises, restructuring measures, and outcome of crises in FFs on the basis of a system-theoretical and processual approach. The results of a qualitative-empirical multiple case study on 14 Austrian FFs show family-specific challenges. The personal and financial commitment of the family as well as the willingness to change, which leads to a professionalization of the management, are decisive for FFs continued existence. From an economic point of view, restructuring in a new shareholder structure can be expedient, although the identity as an FF is lost.