The A and B case material (included in both the Participants’ Guide and the Facilitator’s Guide) sets the stage for the family succession simulation. In a frank and intimate narrative style, members of the Levy family and their non-family CEO discuss the future of their business. Roger Levy, founding entrepreneur and chairman of Ilapak, a packaging machine manufacturer, has reached retirement age, but is not sure if his son Guy or daughter Sabrina are prepared to take his place. Luciano, the CEO, shares his insights as non-family executive. Guy and Sabrina talk about their own hopes and concerns. In the simulation, students take the role of one of these key people, considering and discussing different perspectives on leadership, succession and lifecycle transition issues that are common to, but seldom addressed by, all family firms.
By focusing on personal narratives this case goes beyond typical strategic and financial issues. The simulation fosters discussions around the character and leadership style of the founding entrepreneur; lifecycle and business cycle transitions; psychodynamic issues in family firms; and a family systems approach to business challenges.
- Family Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Next Generation
- Succession
- Family Business Leadership
- Life Cycle Transition
- Leadership Transition
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- AR2008
- AR0708
- RD0108
- WICFE
- Succession, next generation
