Download this document to learn more about EDHEC Family Business Center and onsite details.

The 2018 SMS Conference Extension is a continuation of the previous three SMS Family Business Extensions held at Kennesaw State University (USA) in 2013, IESE Business School (Spain) in 2014, and in Colorado Springs (USA) in 2015. Like in previous years, the 2018 Family Business Extension will bring together a panel of leading strategy scholars, prominent family business researchers interested in strategy’s applications to family firms, and practitioners who work in and with family businesses.

Family firms are often torn between their local roots and their desire and need for growth beyond regional markets.  While family firms tend to have strong connections to their home regions, at the same time, many family firms successfully compete amongst global players in the international marketplace (examples include Dassault, Merck, Hoffmann La Roche, Pernod Ricard, or SC Johnson, to mention a few).  In addition, for those family firms that primarily focus on their domestic market, many are finding that they need to defend their market share against foreign entrants.  No longer can family firms isolate themselves from the effects of globalization.  The diversity with which family firms embrace and contend with globalization and localization therefore makes them an ideal population to explore the dynamics of ‘going global’ and ‘staying local.’

The purpose of this year’s SMS Family Business Extension is to bring together diverse perspectives on globalization and localization to encourage debate across multiple disciplines to: (1) advance our understanding of family firms’ distinctive opportunities and challenges prompted by the duality between being deeply rooted in local communities, cultures, and networks while exploring new opportunities for their expansion and entrepreneurship in the global marketplace; and (2) develop insights that might help family business owners and managers, as well as policy makers and professionals engaged with family firms, to effectively manage the nexus between globalization and localization so as to build competitive advantages to sustain firm growth and performance over multiple generations.

Wednesday, September 26

8:30: Coffee and Refreshments / Registration
9:00: Welcome and Introductions
9:15: Keynote 1
10:00: Panel Discussion 1: Reflections from Academics, Family Business Managers and Practitioners
10:45: Coffee Break
11:00:  Workshops
12:00: Debrief
12:15: Lunch
13:30: Family Business Visit
15:00: Refreshment Break
15:15: Panel Discussion 2
16:15: Keynote 2
17:00: Closing
19:00: Dinner for those who stay overnight including a boat cruise and guided tour along the Seine River (optional, limited seats)

We are pleased to be hosting this extension at EDHEC Business School.

EDHEC Business School
16-18 Rue du 4 Septembre
75002 Paris, France