About Management & Succession In Family Businesses (m.a.) in CBS - Cologne Business School

Business know-how for the successful generation change in family businesses

German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing a drastic generation change in the coming years: According to current forecasts, more than half a million owners of SMEs are expected to plan their succession by 2022. Whether an entrepreneur chooses a family-internal or external company succession depends not least on the qualifications of the successor: In our German-language master’s programme “Management & Succession in Family Businesses”, we prepare you optimally for your challenges as a successor in family businesses through in-depth business studies and specialisation courses, for example on “Business Valuation and Succession Strategies” or “Conflict and Crisis Management in Family Businesses”.

Are you determined to accept these challenges as an internal or external corporate successor and to take responsibility for the management of an established company? Are you yourself part of the successor generation of a family business or are you fascinated by the strength of German medium-sized companies and their “hidden champions”? Or are you planning to accompany succession processes as an independent consultant? Qualify for company succession now with our master`s in “Management & Succession in Family Businesses” in Cologne.

Change in family businesses: Reduce concerns, manage crises

Despite all the planning, a generational change at the top of the company does not always run smoothly: the long-standing management may find it difficult to gradually hand over responsibility and/or a potential successor in the family business may first have to prove themselves in the eyes of the employees. To prevent these critical situations, we prepare you for them in our seminar “Conflict and Crisis Management in Family Businesses”. In addition, you will learn how to initiate technological change in your company and how to take advantage of the opportunities that digitalisation offers you to grow in saturated markets. Family businesses often have the decisive advantage over large companies that they can react quickly to changes.

Succession in family businesses: Mastering the legal aspects of handing over a business

Deciding on a successor is one of the most important legal aspects of a business transfer: if, for example, it is to be left to a family member, it may in certain cases be more advantageous to bequeath the business rather than sell it. The question of the appropriate legal form also holds legal pitfalls, which you will deal with in more detail in the third semester in the course “Legal framework conditions in family businesses”. A further focus of the semester is on the topic of “Business valuation and succession strategies”, where you will learn how to determine the financial value of a company using the net asset value or capitalised earnings value method and thus a central basis for agreement between the owner and prospective buyers.

Best career prospects in SMEs or in consulting

Are you looking to be a successor, or would you prefer to accompany company transfers as a consultant? As a master’s graduate of our study programme, both options are open to you. In addition, you have the qualifications to work in the management or executive management of small and medium-sized enterprises, family businesses or start-ups as well as in change or crisis management. If you are interested and suitable, you can also take up a doctorate at CBS or another university.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Bachelor's degree from a university or technical college

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS     :   6.5
• TOEFL   :   92

Cologne Business School, Germany Highlights

Cologne Business School Average Tution Fees And Other Expenses

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