Family Business
What Can You Learn from Family Business?
A study of their practices gives a useful insight for anyone planning to set up a business. Family business Management programs are offered by many leading management schools. There are many business families who have passed on the baton to successive generations.
Tatas, Birlas, Goenkas, Poddars , Ambanis, Bajajs etc. are some of the familiar names in India.
The following are from the top 25 Global businesses. (Source-Forbes)
1. Wal Mart 2) Volkswagon3) Berkshire Hathaway 4) Exor 5) Ford 6) Cargill.
Definition
A commercial organization in which decision-making is influenced by multiple generations of a family—related by blood or marriage—who are closely identified with the firm through leadership or ownership. Owner-manager entrepreneurial firms are not considered because they lack the multi generational dimension and family influence that create the unique dynamics and relationships of family businesses.
A business actively owned and/or managed by more than one member of the same family.
Expert View
Bernard Kliska
“In most cases, family businesses are stronger because of the complimentary skills of their members.”
Recommended Book
Indian Family Business Mantra - Peter Leach & Tatwamasi DixitThe challenges of the globalized world, succession planning and the next generation getting global education are some of the factors covered in this book.Review by an Amazon Customer
One of the best books in this field of family run business. Mr. Dixit and Mr. Leach share their deep insights and perspective of working with large family groups. What makes this book unique is the spiritual element that they have incorporated. Having read many books on the subject matter the practical application and science is one part but getting a family body aligned needs to be philosophical as well. The book has an emphasis on Indian families and businesses but is very much applicable to all entrepreneurial families. I had read Mr. Leach's earlier two books and the prospective from Mr. Dixit brings many new learnings. I would highly recommend this book.
Indian School of Business- Center for research
Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise-Creating value for families and businesses through research and innovation
The
Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise was launched on February 7,
2015 with an aim to advance real-world and academic knowledge of family
business. Since its inception, the Centre has been bringing together faculty
and practitioners from India and abroad with the broad aim of combining theory
and practice to enhance research and innovation in the field.
Family run businesses make a major contribution towards wealth creation, job
generation, and increasing competitiveness in countries around the world. As
such, the unique challenges and opportunities faced by them are rapidly
becoming an important subject of management research. Cognizant of these
developments, a Chair was set up in 2006 at ISB, which later developed into a
full-fledged Centre. It has been generously funded with support from Thomas
Schmidheiny, Founder and Chairman of Spectrum Value Management, Ltd,
Switzerland.
Key Research Findings- Ernest & Young
ü
Clearly
defined who is responsible for succession
ü Half the survey responders believe entrepreneurship is important for the next generation
ü Outside work experience is not required for family members
ü Overlooks inducting outside talent and prefer family members
ü Lack of Delegation and total control restricts professionals’ contribution
The five attributes of enduring family businesses
Christian Caspar, Ana Karina Dias, and Heinz-Peter Elstrodt
One-third of all companies in the S&P 500 index and 40 percent of the 250 largest companies in France and Germany are defined as family businesses, meaning that a family owns a significant share and can influence important decisions, particularly the election of the chairman and CEO.
As family businesses expand from their entrepreneurial beginnings, they face unique performance and governance challenges. The generations that follow the founder, for example, may insist on running the company even though they are not suited for the job. And as the number of family shareholders increases exponentially generation by generation, with few actually working in the business, the commitment to carry on as owners can’t be taken for granted. Indeed, less than 30 percent of family businesses survive into the third generation of family ownership.
Issues
v Governance could be a causality in the interest of family peace
v Inability to separate family needs and business needs
v Succession Planning overlooks competency of the individual
v Unwilling to cede control and hence induction of capital can be restrictive
v Family tree grows but business growth cannot accommodate the aspirations of all family members
v Family Conflicts among siblings, sometimes, destroy the shareholder value
Conclusion
Have globally grown manifold and are contributing significantly to the GDP of their countries.
The succeeding generation attaches importance for a global experience in education to widen their perspective.
The bonding among family members and emotional attachment to the business are assets during any crisis situation.
A few of them have learnt the art of inducting professionals and managing their aspirations also .For eg., Tatas
They have been able to capture opportunities in the environment to grow their businesses
Startups can learn how family run companies have survived for many decades and have grown significantly by entering new era businesses.
