Tag Archives: multi-generational family enterprises

02/25/17

Benchmarks for Family Enterprise Survival

In September, 2012, Dennis T. Jaffe, Ph.D., of Saybrook University and Jane Flanagan, of Family Office Exchange published Best Practices of Successful, Global, Multi-Generational Family Enterprises. Responding to the lack of solid research into strategies that support long-established family enterprises, they undertook an academic-level study with the goal of benchmarking best practices for multi-generational longevity.

Their research confirmed what has long been known among family-business advisors about best practices of family-enterprise governance, family relationships and development of next generation members:

Nurture the Family
Steward the Family Enterprises
Cultivate Human Capital for the Next Generation

Jaffe and Flanagan found that successful family enterprises strive for a balance among the three. If problems arise in any of these areas, the family does not see itself as successful.

In upcoming blog articles I will expand on each of these best practices areas, and finally discuss the importance of balance among them.

05/20/16

‘Applied Innovation’—Defined For The Family Business

Innovation:

: a new idea, device, or method

: the act or process of introducing new ideas, devices, or methods

Source: Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

 Applied Innovation:

: the process of constant improvement and creative change

: a requirement for the continued success of multi-generational family enterprises

Like any other business, family businesses benefit from, if not require, a culture of innovation—a culture that supports constant improvements to its products, services, processes, governance, and planning.

While the dynamics within family businesses often present obstacles to innovation, a clear view of the competitive advantages of an innovative culture can overcome them.

Next week I’ll write about these obstacles and about some of the advantages enjoyed by family businesses that support a culture of innovation.