Barbera wins Best Dissertation award from FFI

Frank BarberaFrancesco (Frank) Barbera, assistant professor of Family Business, in Stetson University’s School of Business Administration, is the recipient of the 2014 Academic Award for Best Dissertation, presented by the Family Firm Institute, Inc. (FFI).  FFI is the oldest and most prestigious multidisciplinary professional association for family enterprise in the world with members from more than 88 countries.

Barbera is a lecturer in family enterprise and a doctoral candidate at Bond University in Queensland, Australia. He currently teaches three courses on Advanced Topics in Business: Family Enterprise Case Intensive Seminar; Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development; and Applying Self Awareness to College and Career. His research interests incorporate many economic issues applied to family business, entrepreneurship and small business management.

Barbera worked closely with well-known family business researchers, Ken Moores and Justin Craig at Bond University’s Australian Center for Family Business. It was there when he was inspired to change directions from economics to family business. “Given my economics background and experience running my own small business,” Barbera said, “I eventually recognized the potential to really make an impact in the family business field, so I devoted the thesis to family business.”

The Best Doctoral Dissertation Award is given to encourage and recognize outstanding academic achievement in the field of family business study, according to the Family Firm Institute, Inc. website. It is presented annually after a blind peer review of all submissions. Dissertations may be on any topic of relevance to the understanding and appreciation of family firms and/or family firm advisors. Barbera’s award-winning dissertation, five years in the making, is entitled, “Financing, Firm Size and Productive Efficiency: The Effect of Family Ownership.”

Barbera’s focus remains on producing solid research. “The award is clear external recognition that the thesis is quality work, so it should help when it comes to publishing any affiliated articles.”

To read his complete dissertation, click here. (238 pages)

by Grace Aguda