Family-Run Businesses
Succession Planning & Conflict Resolution to Grow the Enterprise
Starting, leading and working in a family business can bring valuable benefits compared to other businesses – from greater commitment and trust between staff to increased flexibility.
"In the United States, 80% or more of all businesses are family controlled. Over 60% of the U.S. workforce works for a family business. In Asia, the numbers are estimated to be even higher. As significant as family businesses are, their challenges are just as serious."
—Teck Ho, Faculty Director
Program Description
This program teaches members of family-owned businesses how to manage and balance the dynamics of the family system and the interest of the business system.
At the end of the program, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion by the UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education.
Methodology
UC Berkeley has designed an integrative program that explores and addresses the complexity of family businesses, their members, and dynamic relations.
Building on the Haas School of Business’s world-class Leading Through Innovation strategy and paired with cutting edge social science, this unique program sets out the main advantages that come with running a family business. It also looks at the key challenges and identifies ways these can be channeled to become positive forces for business growth and success.
"The entrepreneur has long been the key ingredient to the success of the American economy. These entrepreneurial ventures have evolved into traditional family businesses, as the founder naturally desires to 'leave a legacy' for the children. Yet all too often the transition from one generation to the next stumbles and fails. Our program is designed to sustain the viability of both the family and the firm over the long-run."
—Professor Paul Tiffany
Program Topics
- The family enterprise system
- Strengths & challenges of family owned businesses
- Learning & leadership in a family run business
- Communication and family businesses
- Managing conflict in family businesses
- Strategy and growth
Who Should Attend
Participation in this program is limited due to the high level of participant/faculty interaction.
This program is intended for companies in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’s overall well-being. The application is open to family members involved in any aspect of the firm. Participants must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Advantages
Participants will:
- Gain a strategic understanding of the specific dynamics in the family enterprise system
- Develop the capacity to build upon the key values and advantages of a family run business
- Design and maintain a successful leadership & management structure
- Learn how to balance business and family interests, to communicate effectively and manage conflicts within a family run business
