Family Business in Latin America: A Study of Characterization and Trends (A Work in progress report)

The project entitled “Family Business in Latin America: a Study of Characterization and Trends,” is a Non-Governmental initiative that seeks to consolidate a body of knowledge and raise public awareness of the importance of these type of businesses.

This study (first of its kind and scope in the continent), seeks to determine current and dynamics, characteristics and future approach of succession, professionalization and internationalization strategies. The project began to collect data in late 2010.

To this end, the following institutions from nine different Latin American countries have teamed-up with Exaudi¹ through an online survey to reach this goal:

Argentina: ADEN Business School, Niethardt & Asociados, Instituto de la Empresa Familiar.

Chile: Eluchans & Cía.

Colombia: Suárez & Asociados and The Universidad Javeriana.

Costa Rica: Consultoría de Empresas Familiares (CEF), Cámara Costarricense de Empresas Familiares (CACEF) and The Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT).

Guatemala: The Guayacan Group.

Peru: FG Consulting and Peru Top Publications.

México: Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).

Uruguay: Delucchi, Labandera, Cianciarulo, Rachetti & Asociados, and The Escuela de Negocios de la Universidad de Montevideo.

Venezuela: The Universidad del Zulia, The Universidad Metropolitana, The Universidad de Carabobo and CEPROCA.

The study´s priority is based on quality through Academic Evaluation: every step of the research is supported by a recognized faculty member from a prestigious academic institution in each surveyed country. The closing data reception is scheduled for August - September 2011 (dates may vary depending on the country).

Once processed and simplified, the information will be exposed in every country through lectures, forums and presentations aimed at both, the academic and business community. These activities will then serve as a reference to highlight the importance, characteristics and trends most family businesses will face in the near future. As a final product, once the online survey response period ends in all countries, Exaudi will produce a publication that compiles all the answers obtained in the Latin American region.

Beyond the completion of this initiative, with the subsequent product development and dissemination, and the contribution it makes to the research literature on family businesses, Exaudi expects to lay the groundwork of a research that may be carried-out at a much deeper level.

In the long run, the original sponsorship team from major Latin American institutions can be undertaken a replicable standard reference in time, which will serve to assess the evolution of Latin American Family Business.

If you are interested to participate in the survey or wish to collaborate in this project, please contact Guillermo Salazar at guillermo.salazar@exaudionline.com.

¹Exaudi, is a private organization dedicated to the study and development of tools for family businesses at an international level.