Continuity Model Generation

Organize and plan for your family business’s continued, intergenerational success

Continuity Model Generation: Integrating Wealth, Strategy, Talent, and Governance Plans delivers a cohesive and comprehensive plan for family business leaders who seek to improve the chances of sustaining success across generations. Incorporating four distinct—but closely related—plans, Continuity Model Generation shows family businesses how to manage their strategy, their wealth, their talent, and their governance to achieve multi-generational success. The book also offers:

• A coherent framework (Continuity Canvas) for the integration of its multiple plans affecting every critical aspect of the family-owned or controlled business
• Straightforward and practical frameworks, meta-frameworks, and cornerstones to ground your family business’s strategy
• A variety of templates, checklists, and forms to organize your thinking and strategy

Ideal for business-owning families, as well as their stakeholders and those who advise them, Continuity Model Generation: Integrating Wealth, Strategy, Talent, and Governance Plans is required reading for anyone interested in maintaining and developing family-based wealth.

List of Illustrations xi

List of Illustrated Tables xiii

List of Configuration Plans xv

Acknowledgments and Appreciation xvii

Introduction to the Continuity Model Generation xxi

Part I: 21 Frameworks and 6 Meta-Frameworks 1

Keystone Meta-Framework 3

Four Foundational Theoretical Approaches 3

Two Complementary Logics 15

Three Circles Framework 18

Familial Meta-Framework 25

The Big Tent Framework 25

RIPCC Best Practice Dimensions 28

Four Ps Framework 30

Four Cs Framework 32

Individual Meta-Framework 39

Five Servant Leadership Dimensions 39

Four Tests Framework 43

Four Leadership Priorities 45

Four Exit Strategies 48

Generational Meta-Framework 51

Four Ls Framework 51

Four Ownership Stages 55

Four Entrepreneurship Principles 60

Tactical Meta-Framework 63

Family Enterprise Heterogeneity Frameworks 63

Four Rs Framework 66

Four Strategy Dimensions Framework 69

Fundamental Meta-Framework 73

Four Trust Dimensions 73

Five-Stage Life Cycle Framework 76

Church and State Framework 79

Four Innovation Capabilities 82

Part II: The Continuity Canvas 85

Strategy: Strategic Planning for Continuity 87

Strategic Planning for Continuity I: Collecting and Collating Basic Information 87

Strategic Planning for Continuity II: Cornerstone Concept Equals a Quadruple-Bottom- Line Scorecard 91

Financial Perspective 93

Social Perspective 98

Environmental Perspective 103

Talent Perspective 108

Talent: Successors’ Talent Development Planning for Continuity 115

Successors’ Talent Development Planning for Continuity I: Collecting and Collating Basic Information 129

Successors’ Talent Development Planning for Continuity II: Cornerstone Concept Equals Develop an Informed Individual Philosophy of Stewardship 131

Values – History – Legacy 133

Financial Literacy and Value Creation 137

Governance Role Preparation 145

Individual Development 150

Wealth: Asset, Wealth, and Estate Planning for Continuity 155

Asset, Wealth and Estate Planning for Continuity I: Collecting and Collating Basic Information 156

Asset, Wealth, and Estate Planning for Continuity II: Cornerstone Concept Equals Produce a Handwritten Individual Legacy Statement 158

Governance: Governance Planning for Continuity 169

Governance Planning for Continuity I: Collecting and Collating Basic information 169

Governance Planning for Continuity II: Cornerstone Concept Equals Craft the Family’s Governance Philosophy 171

Business Governance 173

Family Governance 183

Ownership Governance 185

The Foundation 192

Part III: Configuring a Plan for the Plans 197

Configuration Plan One 199

Configuration Plan Two 203

Configuration Plan Three 205

Configuration Plan Four 207

Part IV: Appendix 209

Educating Educators 211

A Program Example 215

Part One: Frameworks and Meta-Frameworks 215

Part Two: Four Plans and Cornerstone Concepts for Continuity 218

Part Three: Presenting Configuration Examples 222

Part Four: Developing Your Own Continuity Canvas and Cornerstone Concepts 223

References and Further Readings 225

Index 231

JUSTIN B. CRAIG, PhD, is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at Bond University in Australia and Visiting Professor of Family Enterprise and program director of the Center for Family Enterprises at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is the co-author of Leading a Family Business: Best Practices for Long-Term Stewardship.

Ensuring business success across multiple generations of a family-owned enterprise can be a daunting task. Multiple functional areas must come together to form a cohesive and resilient model for the achievement of the company—and the family’s—goals.

In Continuity Model Generation: Integrating Wealth, Strategy, Talent, and Governance Plans, distinguished researcher, practitioner, and consultant Dr. Justin Craig delivers a comprehensive and timely exploration of time-tested and proven concepts used by successful family businesses to maintain and grow their wealth.

This book is written for those who have strong strategic planning in place for their core business—but lack the same discipline in other, related activities or have been postponing hard discussions related to their estate, asset, and wealth plans. The author motivates and teaches readers how to discuss their aspirations with members of the current generation so they can help create pathways to success that enable them to contribute in a meaningful way.

Easily digestible and actionable, Continuity Model Generation is built around four key pillars: the strategic plan, the wealth, estate, and asset plan, the talent development plan, and the governance plan. Each piece of these four independent but interlocking plans contributes to the maintenance, growth, and protection of family-run enterprises.

The author focuses on ease of application and a straightforward approach in coaching the reader to focus on continuity, sustainability, and success. Perfect for business-owning families, their advisors, consultants, and other stakeholders, Continuity Model Generation also belongs in the libraries of first-generation entrepreneurs who seek to involve family members and successive generations in their enterprise.

PRAISE FOR CONTINUITY MODEL GENERATION

“A seminal framework for leaders aspiring to longevity for their family enterprise. The noted business organization professor includes work of peer family business advisors in development of this guide, companion, and teaching tool for the multigenerational family business.”

—JIM ETHIER, Chairman Emeritus, Bush Brothers & Company

“To master simplicity in an era of complexity is a huge feat. This is precisely what Justin masters in Continuity Model Generation where he works his magic creating a treasure trove of theory and evidence-based independent and interdependent frameworks. His refreshing approach puts theory into action providing useful gems to meet your every need for successful continuity planning. A must-read for those seeking proactive solutions for modern day challenges in multigenerational families.”

—CAROLINE COLEMAN BAILEY, Founder and CEO, Premier Growth; author of Rooted In Family: Honoring The Past While Creating Our Future

“The world of business—especially family business—is complex, but it can be simplified, and Justin has done just that with Continuity Model Generation. In this highly insightful contribution, noted family business authority Dr. Justin Craig has comprehensively and innovatively integrated the influential frames that help all make sense of this complex world. Continuity Model Generation is destined to become the influential go-to reference for all those seeking to understand and interpret the tripartite family, business, and ownership landscape. I commend it to all audiences in the strongest possible terms.”

—KEN MOORES, AM, PHD, DBUS, Emeritus Professor, Bond University

“Researchers in family business have many insights, but for advisors, families, and students, their work often seems to new readers like you need a roadmap or dictionary that helps you understand what they are saying. Justin has given us a guide to the core ideas, frameworks, and tools that have evolved over decades of scholars viewing family business. I see this book as a reference to consult for anyone who enters this field, to orient themselves and develop a context and roadmap that enables you to become a traveler in the field of family business. This book will lie on my desktop and be used over and over again.”

—DENNIS T. JAFFE, PHD, Senior Research Fellow, BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors; Professor Emeritus, Saybrook University

“Business-owning families face a multitude of potential pitfalls which can damage or even end their legacy. Participants in family businesses, regardless of their role or tenure, will greatly benefit from the comprehensive and thoughtful lens through which the author positions time-tested frameworks in the Continuity Model Generation.”

—JONATHAN FLACK, Partner, PwC; U.S. Family Enterprises Leader