From the Back Cover
While family businesses have existed for millennia all over the world, it is only in the past few decades that professional consultants have been utilized to help them function more effectively. This engaging, up to the minute volume explores the varied and complex world of family enterprises as they now exist in the third decade of the 21st century. Attention is given to the factors unique to family businesses in their attention to perpetuating family values, traditions, loyalties and their legacy to future generations. Consultants may be drawn from law, finance and accounting, organizational psychology, or family psychology (with its special emphasis on understanding the family relationship system). The book describes methods of assessment and how to effectively communicate the results as well as techniques of consulting and provides an invaluable description of what is necessary to be and become a family business consultant.
Readers will benefit from explorations of
- A new model featuring 8 inter-related business domains
- Cybersecurity issues and how to handle them
- Working collaboratively with financial and legal professionals
- Comprehensive coverage of research based assessment instruments
Given that over 85% of the businesses in the world, from small to multinational in size and scope are family businesses, the enormous amount of information conveyed in this volume can be extremely valuable to professional consultants and those in the C Suite (CEO's, CFO's, COO's) in helping businesses operate at maximum efficiency, productivity, profitability and satisfaction to all involved.
"Throughout this well organized and well written book, the authors raise the pivotal questions that form the basis for becoming and being an exceptional family business consultant. Psychologists can learn to transform family business conundrums into healthy interactions between the family members of the enterprise before, during, and after transitions of the company. The various aspects of serving as a consultant are fleshed out in the carefully-researched chapters. Case studies show the patterns of behavior that can lead to continuing multigenerational successes or hard dissolutions. Their new model entitled "The Dynamic Interactive Multifactorial Family Enterprise Ecosystem Model" constitutes a major contribution to the field. The best part of the book remains its celebration of the importance and richness of family businesses across generations that will inspire any reader."
G. Andrew H. Benjamin, JD, PhD, ABPPPast President, American Academy of Couple & Family Psychology
Past President, American Board (ABPP) of Couple & Family Psychology Clinical Professor of Psychology & Affiliate Professor of Law, University of Washington
Dr. Kaslow is an internationally known clinical, forensic, and family psychologist, and specialist in family business (and organizational) consultation. She is a past president of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Division 43 (Society for Family Psychology), as well as of Division 46 (Media Psychology and Technology). She has also served as co-chair of APA's Committee on International Relations (in Psychology). Additionally, Dr. Kaslow helped to found several other (major) groups (change to organizations) such as the American Board of Forensic Psychology, American Board of Family Psychology, and the International Family Therapy Association. She is the author of 32 books and over 200 articles in the professional literature and a frequent presenter on radio and TV shows.
Dr. Lilli Friedland is a sought-after consultant to family businesses and families of wealth for more than 25 years. She guides multi-generational families andfamily businesses to create processes that promote family continuity through the transfer of values, wealth and power. Dr. Friedland has been honored and elected to many positions of the national (American Psychological Association), state (California Psychological Association) and local (Los Angeles Psychological Association) psychological organizations. Dr. Friedland was appointed by the governor to the California Board of Psychology- the state licensing board. Lilli Friedland, Ph.D. is a member of Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Women. She has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other national publications. She has made over two hundred national and local TV and radio appearances.
