Preparing Your Family Business For Strategic Change

Strategies for family firms, unlike those of other businesses, can and should incorporate family factors. Responsible and disciplined strategic integration of family and business goals, strengths and values produces powerful results.

Family business planning has traditionally centered on two issues - estate planning and succession. These goals are far too limited for today's family firm. Business families want to turn the business into not only a tool for profit, but for self-expression, innovation and legacy. The authors introduce the new concept of the Parallel Planning Process, explaining how to integrate the needs and expectations of the family and business systems in order to create an organic and entrepreneurial unit. Planning and decision making templates are included as well as studies of well-known family businesses.

Family businesses that expect to endure over a long period of time must learn to respond and adapt to a rapidly changing environment. The authors provide a new appreciation for the importance of change and the tools necessary to incorporate change as a company tradition.

The family agreement is becoming a prime objective to a successful family business. Designed for families planning to draft such an agreement, families deciding whether or not to begin the process, and those that have already established a family agreement, this book illustrates the fundamental components and their importance to the success of the family business. A family agreement or constitution is the expression of purpose for the continuity of the business and the process of creating one is just as important.

The founders of the family business must impart their vision and leadership to succeeding generations. Preparing those generations for leadership is challenging and encompasses a lifetime. Aronoff and Ward's strategy for a smooth transition prepares successors for their role in the future of the firm.

The family business becomes much more complex as it goes from the founder to next generations. As more family members work together several challenges become apparent and can threaten the business if not addressed. This book shows the family members how to confront the problems and how to create solutions.

Developing policies to guide decision making can help the family business avoid serious problems. The authors provide a step-by-step process for engaging family members in developing policies which cover issues such as: dealing with conflicts of interest; retirement timing; distribution of profits; loan programs; compensation and succession.