Genograms

Abstract

This entry discusses the concept of genograms as descriptive and analytical tools in family business group research. Genogram is a term that mostly refers to a graphic description of a person’s or family’s social relationships and patterns. Genograms are also useful tools in family business research, particularly when there are several companies along with several owners forming a business group. While family genogram is a graphic depiction of how different people are biologically and legally related to one another from one generation to the next by using certain symbols to illustrate these relationships the family business group genogram can refer to a graphic description of a complex business system that focuses on how several family companies are related to one another and to their owners. By using genograms, it is possible to focus on the active roles of individual family members shaping the business group.