Mississippi State University’s Center of Family Enterprise Research (COFER) is dedicated to advancing research, education, and support for family-owned businesses with a focus on Mississippi’s unique family business landscape. Family businesses are not necessarily small; many large companies such as Wal-Mart, Cargill, Johnson & Johnson, and Ford Motors are family businesses. However, the longevity of family businesses across generations is tenuous and many do not survive beyond the tenure of the founder.
Mississippi State University is particularly well-positioned to study family businesses. Currently, faculty members are actively engaged in research on family business topics. Many of our management faculty have been have been recognized for their family business research and have been ranked among the top family business researchers in the world.
Family Enterprise Research
Why Family Business Research Matters
Family businesses form the backbone of our economy, accounting for the majority of new ventures and established enterprises in the U.S. They play a vital role in job creation, innovation, and community development.
At the Center of Family Enterprise Research (COFER), we recognize that family firms face unique challenges—and possess distinct strengths—that set them apart. By exploring why some family businesses thrive while others struggle, we aim to provide actionable insights for family business managers and owners to make better use of resources and build sustainable, competitive enterprises.
What We Study
At the Center of Family Enterprise Research (COFER), we are dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of family business by focusing on:
- The creation, growth, and generational transitions of family enterprises.
- Strategic management practices that drive family business success.
- Understanding how organizational behavior differs between family and non-family businesses.
- Identifying the factors that influence the economic performance of family firms.
Mission
To conduct and promote original research on family business, to provide educational and research opportunities for graduate students, primarily at the doctoral level, and to disseminate the results of research to family businesses throughout the U.S., and Mississippi in particular, to improve their management and performance.
Vision
To be recognized as the leader in family business research, both nationally and internationally.
Primary Objectives and Accomplishments
- Produce substantial peer-reviewed publications on family business.
- Advance family business education through research-based learning for graduate students.
- Offer experiential learning opportunities in family business for undergraduate students.
- Ensure that the research results are made available to family business leaders in Mississippi.
- World-Class Research Excellence: Our faculty are consistently ranked among the top family business researchers worldwide.
- Courses: We offer Family Business Management (MGT 3713) to equip undergraduate students with foundational knowledge in managing family enterprises.
- Experiential Learning: We support experiential learning opportunities, such as sponsoring a student team to compete in the University of Vermont's Family Enterprise Case Competition (SGFECC).
- Doctoral Education: We foster advanced scholarship through robust doctoral programs that prepare the next generation of family business researchers.
- Quarterly Report: We publish The Family Business Bulletin, a quarterly report offering insights, research findings, and resources tailored to the unique needs of family-owned businesses across Mississippi. The bulletin provides practical tips and valuable information for those starting, managing, or acquiring a family firm.
Contribution and Impact to the University
The Center is committed to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in a field where the University can gain national and international prominence and to the economic development of the state, region, and nation.