
Family Business
Management & Society
Since the founding of the Family Business Centre at the MCI in 2016, practical projects have been carried out in close cooperation with family businesses in order to sustainably secure and further increase the economic strength of these owner-managed companies.

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Succession
Research into succession in family businesses focuses on analysing strategies and mechanisms for the successful transfer of management and ownership. Key questions include identifying successors, analysing transition processes and assessing the impact on business performance and family relationships. Both individual factors such as the abilities and motivation of successors and structural aspects such as governance models and corporate culture are taken into account.
Family Governance
Research on family governance aims to develop and analyse governance systems to manage the complex relationship between family and business. It looks at issues of power distribution, decision-making and conflict resolution within the family and between family members and external stakeholders. An interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from management, sociology and psychology to identify and develop effective governance structures.
Family Identity
Family identity research is concerned with analysing the symbolic and narrative elements that shape the unique identity of a family business. Here, rituals, stories and shared values are regarded as central objects of investigation in order to understand the cohesion within the family and its influence on the family business. Qualitative methods such as interviews and case studies are used to explore the dynamic processes of identity formation and transformation.
Next Generation
Research on the Next_Gen in family businesses focuses on the development and integration of young family members into the management of the business and the family legacy. Questions of individual development, the transfer of entrepreneurial skills and coping with role expectations are analysed. A systemic approach takes into account the interactions between family, business and societal contexts in order to identify successful strategies for promoting the next generations.










ULYSSES Ulysses Contest – Digital Student Competition on Family Business
2021 - 2023
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Katharina Beckert, MSc
Valerie Nickel, BSc BSc PhD
Ass. FH-Prof. Mag. Desiree Wieser, PhD
Strategische Positionierung – Analyse strategischer Optionen zur Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit touristischer Familienunternehmen
2016 - 2019
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Ing. Mag. Martin Danler
Mag. Gundula Glowka, PhD
Ramona Pfeifer, BA MA
Valerie Nickel, BSc BSc PhD
Familienunternehmen und Personalstrategien der Zukunft: Der Einfluss der Familie auf die Arbeitgeberattraktivität von Familienunternehmen
2019 - 2022
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Dr. Teresa Spieß
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Valerie Nickel, BSc BSc PhD
Anforderungen an das Risikomanagement in klein- und mittelbetrieblich strukturierten Familienunternehmen in Tirol
2019 - 2020
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
Mag. Gundula Glowka, PhD
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Valerie Nickel, BSc BSc PhD
Nachfolgeplanung in familiengeführten Kleinunternehmen
2019
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Valerie Nickel, BSc BSc PhD
Der Faktor MitarbeiterInnen in touristischen Familienunternehmen – eine Status Quo Erhebung des Arbeitgeberimages am Beispiel der Tiroler Hotellerie und Gastronomie
2018 - 2019
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Katrin Schwaiger, MA
Mag. Gundula Glowka, PhD
FH-Prof. Dr. Christoph Engl
FH-Prof. Mag. Hubert J. Siller
Destination Commitment
2019 - 2021
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Katrin Schwaiger, MA
EICAA Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship Competences Assessment Alliance
2021 - 2024
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Ass. FH-Prof. Mag. Desiree Wieser, PhD
Mag. Christine Pirhofer
Mag. Gundula Glowka, PhD
https://www.eicaa.eu
PIETE - Partnership for Initial Entrepreneurship Teacher Education
2018 - 2021
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Mag. Christine Pirhofer
Ass. FH-Prof. Mag. Desiree Wieser, PhD
https://www.entrepreneurialteachers.eu/
Digitalisierung, Soziale Medien und Familienunternehmen | Folgeprojekt
2017 - 2018
PLG_RESEARCH_LEITER:
FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. MMag. Dr. Anita Zehrer
PLG_RESEARCH_PRMITARBEITER:
Valerie Nickel, BSc BSc PhD
- Muskat, B., Hörtnagl, T., Peters, M., & Zehrer, A. (2021). Innovation capability and culture: How time-orientation shapes owner-managers’ perceptions. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 47, 217-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.03.018
- Assenmacher, M., & Zehrer, A. (2025). Die unsichtbare Hand – Mentale Modelle in der Digitalisierung von Familienunternehmen In: Bieger, T., Beritelli, P., & Laesser, C. (Hrsg.), Resilienz im alpinen Tourismus – Schweizer Jahrbuch für Tourismus 2024/2025. Berlin: ESV Verlag, 127-140.
- Glowka, G., Zehrer, A., Leifeld, L. (2022). Values of Centenarian family firms as a source of success. Corporate Governance and Research & Development Studies, n. 1-2022, p. 33-53.
- Glowka, G., Hule, R. & Zehrer, A. Risk perception of SMEs: strategic risks, family-related risks, external risks. Risk Management 26, 17 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41283-024-00148-2
- Nagl, A., Ploder, C., & Zehrer, A. (2024). Knowledge Sharing for Family Businesses. In: Märk, S, & Situm, M. (eds.), Contemporary Issues in family business entrepreneurship. Vol 1. Family business transformation: strategic orientation and business modelling. DeGryter, pp. 195-212.
- Zehrer, A., & Erdelyi, L. (2024). Future viability of family-run tourism businesses – are their special characteristics still relevant for generation Y? In: Märk, S, & Situm, M. (eds.), Contemporary Issues in family business entrepreneurship. Vol 1. Family business transformation: strategic orientation and business modelling. DeGryter, pp. 213-228.
- Zehrer, A., & Raich, F. (2022). Employer Branding in Familienunternehmen - Besonderheiten zur Etablierung einer attraktiven Arbeitgebermarke in familiengeführten touristischen Unternehmen. In: Bieger, T., Beritelli, P., & Laesser, Ch. (Hrsg.), Krisenbewältigung und digitale Innovationen im alpinen Tourismus. Schweizer Jahrbuch für Tourismus 2021/2022. Berlin: ESV Verlag, 159-169.
- Sexl, F., & Zehrer, A. (2024). Artificial intelligence in family-owned tourism businesses. Marketing Review St. Gallen (4), 888-893.
- Auer, I., Schlögl, S., & Glowka, G. (2024). Chatbots in Airport Customer Service—Exploring Use Cases and Technology Acceptance. Future Internet, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16050175
- Zehrer, A., Glowka, G., Wieser, D., Pirhofer, C. (2025). Coping with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk – a crucial future competence in entrepreneurship education. International Marketing Journal of Culture and Tourism, 6, 48-54. https://doi.org/10.33001/18355/IMJCT0817
- Zehrer, A., Leiß, G., Krusekopf, C., & Wilsonmah, R. (2020). The Peak Hotel – The Challenge of Succession and Family Firm Continuity. The International Journal of Instructional Cases, 4, 1-9.
- Hofer, T., Spiess, T., Ploder, C., & Bernsteiner, R. (2024). Understanding Employer Attractiveness for Generation Z in the IT Industry. European Journal of Management Issues, 32(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.15421/192403
- Glowka, G., Zehrer, A., & Hule, R. (2024). Risk perception of SMEs: strategic risks, family-related risk, external risks. Risk Management, 26(17). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41283-024-00148-2
- Leiß, G., Leifeld, L., & Zehrer, A., (2021). Ist der Ruf erst ruiniert – Fünf Achtsamkeitspraktiken zur Vermeidung von Krisen und Skandalen in Familienunternehmen. FuS – Zeitschrift für Familienunternehmen und Strategie, 3, 88-94.
- Schwaiger, K., Zehrer, A. & Spiess, T. (2021). The influence of symbolic and instrumental attributes of employer image on perceived industry attractiveness: differences between business owners and employees. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 5(3), 567-587. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-12-2020-0234
- Wieser, D., Zehrer, A., Shinohara, Y., Kim, R.C., & Ackaradejruangsri, P. (2024). Sustainability across Generations in Family Firms. IECER Conference, September 18-20 2024, Innsbruck, Austria.
- Assenmacher, M., & Zehrer, A. (2024). The digital entrepreneurial family. Exploring Innovation in Family Enterprises: A Systematic Review. FIFU DACHLI. 11.-13. März 2024, München, Deutschland.
- Beckert, K., & Zehrer, A., (2023). Role identities and work boundaries in family firms. International Family Business Research Day, March 14, 2023 online.
- Schwaiger, K., Braun, B., & Zehrer, A. (2021). Destination Commitment of Generation Y and Z Tourism Employees in the Alpine Destination of Kitzbühel. 11. Konferenz der deutschsprachigen Forschungszentren und Institute für Familienunternehmen (FIFU Dachli), 25.-26. Feburar2021. Hamburg, Deutschland.
- Glowka, G., & Zehrer, A. (2021). Risikomanagement in klein- und mittelstrukturierten Familienunternehmen. 11. Konferenz der deutschsprachigen Forschungszentren und Institute für Familienunternehmen (FIFU Dachli), 25.-26. Feburar2021. Hamburg, Deutschland.
- Nickel, V., & Zehrer, A. (2021). Tiroler Familienunternehmen: Rollenkonstruktion in der Führungsebene. 11. Konferenz der deutschsprachigen Forschungszentren und Institute für Familienunternehmen (FIFU Dachli), 25.-26. Feburar2021. Hamburg, Deutschland.
- Assenmacher, M., & Zehrer, A. (2024). The digital entrepreneurial family. Exploring Innovation in Family Enterprises: A Systematic Review. 2nd International Family Business Research Day. January 30, 2024, Online.
- Sexl, F., & Zehrer, A. (2024). Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Tirolean family firms. 2nd International Family Business Research Day. January 30, 2024, Online.
- Assenmacher, M & Zehrer A. (2024, June 18-21). The Role of the Entrepreneurial Family in Family Business Innovation. Doctoral Colloquium - IFERA 2024, Lisbon, Portugal.
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