Applied Research

The research project focusses on the vital and complex topic of takeover in family businesses. Specifically, the influence of personality and the values ​​of the next generation on the takeover intention are analyzed. The research project targets to create a rich synergy from different, established research areas. In this way, the connection between the research areas of family businesses and business psychology can be further promoted and essential findings for succession research in family businesses can be generated. The aim of the project is therefore to derive relevant implications for action for family entrepreneurs and potential successors in order to optimize the future career choices of potential successors and to ensure the continued existence of the family company in future generation.

Partners: Pepperdine University, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Take part in the survey: https://www.unipark.de/uc/succession_intention/

EICAA aims to promote entrepreneurship and innovation skills. For this purpose, a survey to measure entrepreneurship and innovation skills is being created, the development of which is based on the internationally accepted EntreComp framework of the EU Commission. For each of the competencies, teaching modules for lecturers are being developed in the project. The survey of entrepreneurship and innovation skills is tested in advance and piloted on a large scale at universities and companies.

Project partners: Antwerp Management School, Univations, University Hohenheim, University of Szeged, TecnoCampus Mataro-Maresme

Funding authority: Erasmus +

As part of the Ulysses "Family Firm Case Study Competition", students have the opportunity to be supported in developing entrepreneurial skills and to participate in a competition in a playful way. The competition is organized on a virtual platform so that multinational student groups can solve case studies from local family businesses. The project started on July 1, 2021 and is a cooperation between universities from Hungary, Italy, Germany and Austria.

Project partners: Free University Bozen, University Vienna, Univations, Fundus, University of Szeged

Funding authority: Erasmus +

The aim of the project is to compile data about the loyalty of employees in tourism to their destination. The project deals primarily with the following central questions: How do employees of the family-run Tyrolean hotel industry assess their own commitment to their place of work, thus the tourist destination, and what can be derived from this for a socially- and economically-sustainable development of the destination and the company?

Funding authority: Tourismusforschungszentrum (TFZ)

The aim of the project is to find out conditions under which the communication of family involvement can have a positive or negative impact on the perceived attractiveness of Tyrolean family businesses. In addition, the influence of the potential applicants’ individual differences in this regard will be examined. A special focus is set on the so-called generations Y and Z (born from 1980). In addition to a structured literature analysis, within the project qualitative and quantitative data will be collected, evaluated and interpreted in order to answer the central questions. Finally, recommendations for practice will be derived and made available. In particular, small and medium-sized Tyrolean family businesses will gain valuable information for their future personnel strategies, especially with regard to communicating family influence in employer branding processes. This information can help Tyrolean family businesses to recruit talented and well-educated employees of generations Y and Z on the labor market of the future and thus be prepared for the increasing digitization.
Funding authority: Tiroler Wissenschaftsfonds

The new Corona Virus CoVID-19 poses great challenges for companies worldwide. The tourism industry is particularly affected by government restrictions. These restrictions force entrepreneurs to implement measures to ensure their resilience and remain able to act after the crisis. In Austria and Germany, the tourism industry is the main industry for which short-time work is considered a suitable measure by the employment agencies. The question now is whether it is the main measure that entrepreneurs choose for their company.

The current study aims at examining how the measure of short-time work, the self-perception of the entrepreneurs and their perception of the role of the employees affect the resilience of the companies. An important parameter for the investigation is the size of the company and the distinction between family businesses versus non-family businesses. Recommendations for action are derived and suitable measures are determined to determine how companies can remain resilient to external shocks such as pandemics or other crises.

The research project was dedicated to the question: "How do entrepreneurial families deal with scandals?. In this context, the study showed the challenges, problems and consequences of a (public) scandal in family businesses. 

The aim of the study was to identify different handling types and patterns and then to evaluate the. The focus was on internal and external communication during and after the crisis or scandal.

Funding authority: Equa Stiftung

This research project examined the risk situation and risk awareness of family businesses in Tirol. The motivation for this project was that a lack of risk awareness can lead to a neglect of risk management, which in the medium term endangers the health of the companies.

With the help of a mixed-methods research process, the requirements for risk management in small and medium-sized family businesses were determined.

Funding authority: Tiroler Wissenschaftsfonds

The research project analyzed the values ​​and needs of the "early Generation Y" from Germany in relation to family-run hotel operations in order to derive long-term product and offer development. The focus was on determining which values ​influence ​the “early Generation Y” segment in travel decisions, which tourist offers it values ​​and which opportunities and risks family-run tourist businesses will have in this segment in the future.

The results show that Generation Y is a potential target group for tourist family hotels in Tyrol. The special features of a family business can also be used to further develop the offer.

Funding authority: Tourismusforschungszentrum (TFZ)

The project aims to assess the status quo of strategic positioning of family-run businesses in Tirolean tourism, to analyze their problems, challenges and strategic options. Based on the challenges of family firms with regard to their stategic positioning, solutions and practical recommendations shall be developed and published in a guideline. This guideline shall help family firms to become sensitive towards strategic planning and provide them with hands-on measures and recommendations to achieve their strategic goals. Thus the overall aim is to contribute to the overall competitiveness of family-run tourism businesses.
Project partner: Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, VTT (Verband der Tiroler Tourismusverbände)
Funding authority: Research Centre Tourism and Recreation