This activity-based fieldbook serves as a rigorous planning tool developed from over 25 years of teaching and advising business families globally. It teaches professional planning skills enabling business families to evolve into multi-generational teams driven by planning, passion, and purpose.
The resource creates real-world family learning experiences through activities focused on family and business planning exploration.
After 25+ years teaching family businesses worldwide, the authors note exceptional business families utilize professional planning tools for improved performance. However, research indicates most business families lack succession plans and clear family strategies.
Business planning necessity is widely recognized, yet many families neglect family planning due to emotional sensitivity and fear of conflict. Planning for both family harmony and business sustainability appears daunting, leading to avoidance.
Recognizing the family’s significant role requires capable family participation, necessitating fresh approaches to help business families collaborate effectively.
The fieldbook teaches professional skills transitioning businesses from founder/owner-manager stages (G1, G2)—characterized by “power, personality and politics”—to multi-generational family-team models (G3+) driven by “planning, passion and purpose.”
“Families are about emotions and caring, and businesses are about profit and performance, not a likely partnership.”