APPENDIX A. INTERVIEW GUIDE
The interviews held with involved members of each company followed a guideline rather than a completely structured formal questionnaire. The reason for this was to allow the interviewees to talk freely and provide extra information that could have been left out if the interview had been over structured.
In the case of the top management family member of each firm, the interview was formed of three parts: background, innovation and management. As for other members who were willing to participate, both family and non-family members, they were only asked the second and third part, meaning that the interview was more focused on changes and innovations made in the firm, and a little bit on management issues.
The main topics that guided the interviews are:
BACKGROUND o Founding date
o How was it formed? (acquisition, creation, etc), by whom?
o How has it grown? (number of employees, location, new businesses, new products, market shares, different investors)
o How many generations of the family have been involved at the same time, are involved now? How many members in total?
o Are there any non family members involved in the top management? If not, why? If so, how many?
INNOVATION
o What big changes has the firm had? Who initiated them?
o Would you consider the firm as innovative? In what sense?
o What types of innovations have been present in the firm’s history? (technical, non technical: new products, image changes, new services, new processes, new administration forms)
o What does it take for a new idea to be applied or accepted? Who/what stops new ideas to be applied?
o What do you think is lost, if at all, when innovations are rejected?
o Who is usually the one who gives new ideas? Who decides whether or not they are applied?
o Is there a collective support for the application of the idea once accepted?
o Is an idea better accepted when it comes from a family member rather than a non family member? Inside or outside the firm?
MANAGEMENT
o Are there conflicts of interest? Do you think they are diminished if the involved persons are family members?
o Do/would you like to work with non-family members? (advantages and disadvantages)
APPENDIX B. PEOPLE INTERVIEWED HOLDING A
This appendix shows a list of the people who as interviewed in order to obtain data from Holding A
Interviewee Position
Son 1 President and General Manager of Leas
Daughter 1 Worked 4 years for the holding
Daughter 2 Worked for 27 years for the holding
Son in law IT manager for all the Holding
Grandson 1 General Manager of VinPro and participant of
Dist. management
Grandson 2 General Manager of Mech and participant of
Dist. management
Grandson 3 General Manager of Vin and participant of
Dist. management
Grandson 4 General Manager of Blea and participant of
Dist. management
Ext. manager 2 Accountancy manager for all the Holding
