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Case Study

Korvac Holdings: What makes a family business?

By Joachim Schwass, Anne-Catrin Glemser and Martin Králik

5 pages

May 2014

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Reference: IMD-7-1502

Korvac is a story of two generations of a family, each entrepreneurial in its own way and acting in a manner often associated with “serial entrepreneurship.” Korvac’s owners have emphasized investments as well as divestments, entering into and subsequently dissolving a number of strategic partnerships as a way of putting the company’s resources to optimum use. The case shows that the family’s series of business ventures has grown into a bona fide family business largely on the strength of family values and company values that have been passed down from the father’s to the son’s generation.

Learning Objective

In regions such as Southeast Asia, family-controlled companies have not only played an important business role but have also acted as agents of broader social, economic and nation-building change. This case belongs to a series of company cases that exemplify best practices in family ownership, succession and business governance. It illustrates the unique perspectives that leading family-owned and family-controlled businesses in emerging markets in Asia bring to global learning on family business. It invites participants to learn about local family firms and understand their view on shaping positive and sustainable visions for the future, anchored in an increasingly global environment.

Keywords

Family Business, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Family Values, Divestment, Leadership, Generational Transition, Next Generation

Settings

Asia, Singapore
Korvac Holdings, Manufacturing, Technology, Information Technology, Information Services
2013

Type

Field Research

Available Languages

English

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