Synopses & Reviews
Many of the world's greatest businesses are family owned, and with this comes the threat of family feuding, sibling rivalries, and petty jealousies. Family Wars takes readers behind the scenes on a rollercoaster ride through the ups and downs of some of the biggest family-run companies in the world, showing how family in-fighting has threatened to bring about their downfall. Covering families such as Ford, Gucci, McCain, Guinness, Gallo, and Redstone, Family Wars is an astonishing expose of the way families do business and how family in-fighting can threaten to blow a business apart. Whether it's Brent Redstone's court case with his father and sister or the family feud over Henry Ford's $350 million trust fund, the book reveals the origins, the extent, and finally the resolution of some of the most famous family feuds in recent history. Family Wars also provides valuable advice for anyone involved in a family business, offering suggestions on how to avoid such problems.
Review
""Will inspire readers to institute processes for governance and communication that can prevent a feud from festering."" -- Family Business Magazine
Review
"Lessons from this excellent book apply primarily to family companies, although there is thoughtful leadership insight for other managers." -- Booklist
Review
· Lively analysis of family feuds that threatened some of the world's greatest businesses, including Gucci, Ford, IBM, U-Haul and Viacom/CBS
· Shows what companies can do, and successful ones have done, to resolve potentially disastrous conflicts and ensure the inheritance of power runs smoothly
· Identifies features unique to family businesses, but principles apply to any business with hopes of becoming stellar"Will inspire readers to institute processes for governance and communication that can prevent a feud from festering." -- Family Business Magazine
Review
"The authors' talent for storytelling, and willingness to share the corporeal as well as the corporate, makes Family Wars worth the time." -- USA Today
About the Author
Grant E. Gordon is the Director General for the Institute for Family Business. He is a fifth generation member and Non-Executive Director of William Grant & Sons, a family business that changed over from family to non-family leadership in 2000.
Nigel Nicholson has been honored by the American Academy of Management for his contribution to business theory and method. He is a professor at the London Business School, where he leads the Family Business Research Initialtive. A former journalist, he is a frequent commentator in the media on business affairs and has published 15 books and over 200 articles.
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgements
1. Family wars
2. The ideas: the roots of family warfare
Families at war; The roots of conflict; Gene politics and the family firm; Family dynamics; Culture and personality
3. Brothers at arms
Introduction; Koch Industries destructive redress; The Reliance story the myth of unity; The Dassler family racing for supremacy; The Mondavi family a bitter cup; The Gallo family vintage conflicts
4 Fighting for the crown
Introduction; The McCains when the chips are down; IBM the Watsons, Senior and Junior; Bata Shoe a struggle for strategy
5 The house that hubris built
Introduction; The Ford family parental oppression; The Dart Group an excess of willpower; Château dYquem the perils of condescension; The Redstone family the leaders iron grip; Solid Waste and the Waxman family greed, deception and destruction
6 Heads in the sand the insularity trap
Introduction; The Guinness story sliding into scandal; The Sakowitz story the unchecked leader; The Steinberg story falling apart, together; The Louisville Times and the Binghams losing the legacy; Seagram and the Bronfmans the runaway leader
7 Schism to have or have not?
Introduction; Pritzker fighting for the spoils; The LA Times Group and the Chandlers the centrifugal family; Freedom Communications and the Hoiles a battle for control; The Pathak family spice wars
8 Un-civil war
Introduction; U-Haul and the Shoens a shattered dynasty; The Gucci family a tragic Italian opera
9 The spoils of war and the price of peace
From poisoned roots to the fruits of success the essential lessons of warfare; Warning signs and practical measures; In praise of conflict
Notes
Index