Generation to Generation: Life Cycles of the Family Business »

Generation to Generation presents one of the first comprehensive overviews of family business as a specific organizational form. Focusing on the inevitable maturing of families and their firms over time, the authors reveal the dynamics and challenges family businesses face as they move through their life cycles. The book asks questions, such as: What is the difference between an entrepreneurial start-up and a family business, and how does one become the other? How does the meaning of the business to the family change as adults and children age? How do families move through generational changes in leadership, from anticipation to transfer, and then separation and retirement? This book is divided into three sections that present a multidimensional model of a family business. The authors use the model to explore the various stages in the family business life span and extract generalizable lessons about how family businesses should be organized. "Generation to Generation is not only a Rand McNally for family businesses, it is a Fodor's as well. Participants in family businesses, no matter what their ages, will find this book an invaluable road map and guide."—Frank Perdue "A seminal book about a topic usually neglected if not ignored—the family owned business—which is what makes Generation to Generation so important and vital. Bringing their rich experiences to bear, along with a powerful analytic heft, the authors have written what will be, in a very short time, a classic."—Warren Bennis