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.

The authors explore how effective planning and communication helps business families around the world address growth challenges as they strive to become high performing multi-generation family enterprises. This book shows family businesses working together at their best.

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.

From small start-ups to giant multinationals, from the Mom-and-Pop owned barber shop to Ford, family owned businesses continue to dominate the world economy. Regardless of size, running a successful family firm presents unique challenges, and many fail to survive the transition to the next generation. Here is a practical, comprehensive guide to ensuring success through effective strategic planning. The authors provide a wealth of tested, easy-to-follow tools and techniques for mastering strategic planning for family-owned firms. Filled with real world examples, case studies, checklists, and planning worksheets, the book shows how to deal with a host of emerging challenges--from new technologies and globalizing marketings--by integrating family values and dynamics into sound planning and management.

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.