Åsa M Björnberg MSc Psychol. MA, PhD Candidate

Researcher, Family Business
Department of Organisational Behaviour

I joined London Business School in 2003 to be part of the leadership in family business research initiative LIFBRI. I hold the IFB Fellowship, supported by the Institute for Family Business, Butane Group and WIlliam Grant & Sons.

Education/Accreditations: Masters in Science (MSc) from Sweden in Organisational and Clinical psychology, accrediting towards chartership in clinical psychology and a qualification in psychotherapy. Masters (MA) in Consulting to the Organisation at the Tavistock & NHS Portman Trust/University of East London. Enrolled in the PhD Programme in Employee Relations and Organisational Behaviour at London School of Economics & Political Science.

Founding member of the British Psychological Society Special Group for Coaching Psychology, BPS advanced accreditation in psychometric testing and feedback.

Research interests: Family psychology, leadership, culture and performance of family firms; psychodynamics of groups; impact of personality on leadership and group relations.

Related activities: Private bilingual coaching practice in London: a client group consisting mainly of entrepreneurs, focusing on personal development and leadership in fast-growing firms. Consultancy and education for family firms, as well as coaching for executive education and Centre of Management Development (CMD) at London Business School.

PUBLICATIONS:

Books & book chapters

Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2008). 'Emotional ownership - The critical pathway between the next generation and the family firm'. London: The Institute for Family Business, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2008). 'The Shape of things to come: Emotional ownership and the next generation in family firms'. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2007). 'Ready, willing and able? The next generation in family businesses'. London: The Institute for Family Business.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2005). 'The family business leadership Inquiry'. London: The Institute for Family Business.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2006). 'Critical leader relationships in family firms'. In: P. Poutziouris et. al. (Eds.) Family Business Research Handbook. London: Elgar.

Shams, M. & Björnberg, Å. (2006). Issues in Family Business: an International Perspective. In: Jackson, P.R. & Shams, M. (Eds.) Developments in Work and Organizational Psychology: Implications for International Business. London: Elsevier.

Nicholson, N., and Björnberg, A. (2004). Evolutionary psychology and the family firm: structure, culture and performance. In S. Tomaselli & L. Melin (Eds.), Family Firms in the Wind of Change. Research Forum Proceedings, IFERA, Lausanne.

Working papers:

Björnberg, Å., & Nicholson, N. (2007). Family climate: The development of a new measure for use in family business research. Family Business Review, 20,3,229-246.

Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2009). A model of emotional ownership in family firms: The role of family climate and governance (working title). London Business School working paper.

Published Reports

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2006). Case Reports of the 2006 Family Business Honours: Musgrave, Newhall Publications, Wates Group and Caledonia Investments. London: JPMorgan Private Bank.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2005). The London Business School/FFI Family Business Advisors and Educators Survey. London Business School Report.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2005). Case Reports of the 2005 Family Business Honours: Walkers Shortbread, Bestway, Ringtons, OCS Group. London: JPMorgan Private Bank.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2004). Case Reports of the 2004 Family Business Honours: Bruntwood, William Jackson & Son, William Reed Publishing. London: JPMorgan Private Bank.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2004). UK Family Business Honours Report 2004. London: JPMorgan Private Bank.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2003). Case Reports of the 2003 Family Business Honours: Bettys & Taylors, C & J Clark, Samworth Brothers. London: JPMorgan Private Bank.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2003). UK Family Business Honours Report 2003. London: JPMorgan Private Bank

Dissertations:

Björnberg, Å. (2008). For better or for worse? A study of Family Climate and the effectiveness and Hazards of Copreneurship. Awarded "Best doctoral dissertation proposal" by Family Business Network and International Family Enterprise Research Academy, Nyenrode, July 5th 2008.

Björnberg, Å. (2007). For better or for worse: Husband & wife co-headship in a primary school. MA Dissertation. London: Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust & University of East London.

Björnberg, Å. (2001). Psychosocial support for children and adolescents in post-war Sarajevo (BiH). MSc dissertation (Psychol). Göteborg: Göteborg University.

Practitioners' publications:

Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2007). Ready, willing and able? In: Institute for Family Business Yearbook 2007.

Björnberg, Å. (2006). Strategies for Success - Visit to C & J Clark Ltd. In: Insitute for Family Business Yearbook 2006.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2006). Highlights from the Family Business Leadership Inquiry. In: Institute for Family Business Yearbook 2006.

Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2004). Best Practice UK Chapter. Bettys & Taylors Family Case Study UK. The Family Business Network Newsletter, 37.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2004). Familiess - Fatal Flaw or Inimitable Advantage? Families In Business,13.

Conference activities:

Björnberg, Å. & Coyle-Shapiro, J. (2009). The role of exchange and communal processes in understanding entrepreneurial relationships. To be presented to the Academy of Management Annual Meeting. Chicago, August 2009.

Family Business Network Annual Summit. Emotional ownership and the Next Generation. Live case presentation: DeKuyper Royal Distillers. Delhi, September 2008.

Björnberg, Å. (2008). What is your family like? Using of the family climate scales in family business research and consulting. Presentation. Research & Education Symposium, Family Firm Institute Annual Conference. London, October, 2008.

Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2008). The Shape of things to Come - Emotional Ownership and the Next generation. Presentation. IESE International Family Owned Business Conference, June, 2008.

Björnberg, Å. (2008). What is your family like? Using of the family climate scales in family business research and consulting. Presentation. Research & Education Symposium, Family Firm Institute Annual Conference. London, October, 2008.
Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2008). The Shape of things to Come - Emotional Ownership and the Next generation. Presentation. IESE International Family Owned Business Conference, June, 2008.

Björnberg, Å. & Nicholson, N. (2005). The Family Climate Scales: A new measure for use in family business. Poster presentation at the Family Firm Institute Annual Conference: Varied Architectures: The Art and Science of designing Family Enterprises. Chicago, Oct, 2005.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2004). Data Analysis of the Managing Transitions Survey. London: IFB (UK) Third National Forum Conference, UK, May 2004. JPMorgan Private Bank.

Nicholson, N. & Björnberg, Å. (2004). Family Firm Culture: Relevance, Dimensionality and Measurement. The Advancement of Family Business Research: IFERA 4th Annual conference, Jönköping, Sweden, Feb, 2004.

Guest lectures:

FBNnet Belgium (FBN Belgian Chapter) Building the bond in large multi-generational family firms. Brussels, March 19th 2009.

FBN Finland. Emotional Ownership and the next generation. Rovanjemi, Lapland January 31st, 2009.

Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie. Emotional ownership: The critical pathway between the family business and the next generation. The Hospital Club, London, September 29th 2008.

Family Business Club, London Business School - Inaugural Speaker's event. Moderator. Speakers: Jonathan Neame, CEO Shepherd Neame. JJ Ofer, Derbrook, Ben Lewis, COO Lewis Trust Group & River Island, Sunil Mohinani, CEO Sara. London, May 2008.

Institute for Family Business National Forum Conference. Moderator, Next Generation workshop. Live case presentation: Berry Bros & Rudd. London, May, 2008.

Strategies for Success - IFB Next Generation Programme, at C & J Clark. Whole day education programme, developed and delivered, Somerset, February, 2006.

Leadership in Family Business - Firm culture and Family Climate. Presentation. London Metropolitan University, February, 2005.

Psychosocial support for children and youth in post-war Sarajevo. Presentation to the Aliens Appeals Board (Utlänningsnämnden), Sweden. Westminster University, September, 2003.

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