The Performance of Swiss and German Family Firms: Investigating Strategies, Orientations and SEW as Determinants

In this chapter we center our attention on the performance drivers of family firms in Switzerland and Germany and compare the corresponding results with the findings generated in the US. Investigating family firms is justified as this organizational form not only constitutes the majority of all firms globally (Sharma and Carney, 2012), but in particular in Switzerland and Germany. In fact, more than 88 percent of all firms in Switzerland are defined as family firms (Frey, Halter, Klein, and Zellweger, 2004), and numbers for Germany are similar (Klein, 2000). While more than 99 percent of all companies in Switzerland are small and medium-sized (Frey et al., 2004), the share of family firms varies with firm size; more specifically, the share of family firms decreases with increasing firm size, which is in line with findings from Germany (Klein, 2000). The social and economic impact of family firms is remarkable. In Germany for instance, family controlled firms provide 60 percent of all jobs and account for 51 percent of the total sales of the German economy (cf. www.familienunternehmen.de). Even though the interest of both academics and practitioners in family firms has been rising significantly in recent years, the existing body of knowledge in the field is still rather fragmented (Sharma, 2004; Sharma and Carney, 2012).

Marijuana, alcohol and actual driving performance.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Countermeasures for young drivers. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

The adopted daughter : a tale for young persons /

Copperplate frontispiece bears date June 30, 1815.

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Radio - Birthday Party - 12th Anniversary

Note attached: In background are members of the orchestra, and in the foreground are some of those who had individual parts in the performance. Jefferson B. Webb, station manager, is in the center, with Reta Alcock, child actress, seated on his knee. Others seated from left to right, are Wynn Wright, actor in the sketch "The Night Express"; Ole Foersch, director of the orchestra; Miss Alcock, Mr. Webb. Mr. Webb and Marion Martin, pianist. Standing directly back of them are Frances Harris, soprano; B.D. Welling, actor in the sketch; Kathryn Young, Soprano soloist; Ty Tyson, announcer; Helen Kennedy Snyder, contralto; Rex White, station dramatist; Arnold Tieman, announcer; Wilfred Engelman, Baritone soloist. Among these in center background are Herschell Hart, announcer, and C.C. Bradner, who gave News Bulletins founded on Page One events of twelve years ago. 12th Anniversary: Aug. 20, 1932

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Boys and Girls Room