Risk Management for Business Families

A key characteristic of all enduring business families is their willingness to do whatever is necessary to adequately and appropriately manage all significant risks and threats to their continuity, as a family group.  This applies however the group re-invents itself, from generation to generation.

Conversely, the most common cause of business family failure is the lack of commitment to manage those same risks.

Of course, there will always be unforeseen and uncontrollable risks, but research and anecdotal evidence suggest that most risks can be forecast and managed, if the family has the will and the ability to do so.

Strategic Approach to Risk Management

The same systematic approach applies to all families:

1. Identify the family’s core values and long-term aspirations.
2. Define the family’s long-term objectives – as goals. (This is the family’s Vision).
3. Realistically assess the family’s current state and capacity (people, resources and attitudes) and its distance from achieving its goals.
4. Create a Family Plan to take the family from where it is now, to where it wants to be.
5. Obtain family-wide commitment to support the Family Plan. Everybody should have a role as a Leader, Participant, or Passenger.  (Nobody should be able to block the progress of the Family Plan, although anybody should be able to excuse themselves from participation).
6. Identify, classify and quantify the risks associated with carrying out the various parts of the Family Plan.
7. Assess and prioritise the risks by: (a) likelihood of occurrence and (b) probable or potential consequences.
8. Develop a Risk Management Plan (“RMP”) to manage and/or mitigate identified risks. Integrate the RMP into the Family Plan.
9. Obtain family-wide endorsement of, and commitment to, the upgraded Family Plan.
10. Implement the Plan.
11. Monitor, measure and acknowledge performance and progress.
12. Adjust the Plan, as required, as circumstances, priorities or results demand (Family Council, Family Office and Family Forum tasks).

Elements of Risk

Every desirable success factor is also a risk factor.  They can be visualised as

 

Personal and Family	Business and Financial
Success, Harmony & Wellbeing	Ownership, Leadership & Control
Personal wellbeing, health & happiness Personal success – achieving goals with family, community & career Family relationships & harmony Personal connectedness to collective goals and plans Adequate and appropriate Nextgen education Family Plans – clarity & commitment (whole family and by family group)  Communication, problem solving, decision making & conflict management systems Diversity – understanding & leveraging different personalities & capabilities Respect & trust – high levels Good Parenting	Strategy & Business Plans Succession & Continuity Plans Family control / directing of business – appropriate systems & rules of engagement Business Boards & governance – strategic, objective and effective Family values & ethics – congruent with  business values & culture Effective family leaders & managers Family employment – rules & performance Appropriate business structures for long term success & sustainability Nurturing and developing the family’s next entrepreneurs and wealth creators High performing teams, including family employees Problem solving & decision making
Legacy, Continuity & Sustainability	Wealth Preservation & Enhancement
Family Vision – leadership & engagement Communication, problem solving, decision making & conflict management systems Family Legacy & togetherness – clarity, commitment & implementation Good parenting Family Discipline & Governance – plans, execution & enforcement Reputation – social & professional Mutual Obligations – moral & kinship Social contributions & philanthropy Family values in balance with business values & culture	Effective Family Council / Family Office Business success & profitability Wealth portfolio security & performance Family Legacy goals (financial and activity) Family Investment Strategy & Goals Personal financial security Personal and family financial responsibilities & obligations Wise decisions & appropriate financial pans Family Constitution – BFAs etc. Personal and shared insurances Security of sensitive information
Legacy, Continuity & Sustainability	Wealth Preservation & Enhancement
Personal participation in family plans Legal & financial exposures – Mutual Obligations: financial plans;  wills & estate plans; powers of attorney etc. Stewardship rules & culture Succession & Transition Plans Innovation & Reinvention vs Fossilisation