Family Wars: Classic Conflicts in Family Business and How to Deal with Them (Paperback)

Family Wars takes you behind the scenes on a roller coaster 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. Whether it?s Redstone?s courtroom battles or the feud over Henry Ford?s reluctance to let go of the reins, the book reveals the origins, the extent and the final resolution of some of the most famous family feuds in recent history. Case studies in Family Wars include: Koch Industries The Reliance Story The Gallo Family Bata Shoe The Guinness Story The Pathak Family The Gucci Family With insight into issues such as boardroom power struggles, family succession battles and the consequences ? good and bad ? of nepotism, Family Wars offers practical suggestions for how similar problems can be contained and solved. Many of the world?s greatest businesses are family owned - but with this comes the threat of family fighting, sibling rivalries and petty jealousies. Family Wars is the dramatic story of the family feuds and bust-ups that have threatened some of the world?s greatest businesses. Covering families such as Ford, Gucci, McCain, Ambani and Redstone, this book is an astonishing expose of the way families do business and how arguments can threaten to blow a business apart. More than telling the stories behind some of these dramatic showdowns, Family Wars also provides valuable advice for anyone involved in running a family business. About The Author Grant Gordon is the Director General of the Institute for Family Business and a fifth generation member, and former senior executive, of a leading UK family business in the drinks sector. Nigel Nicholson is professor of Organizational Behaviour at London Business School and a leading writer, executive educator and broadcaster on business and Management. Table of Contents Family wars 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 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 Fighting for the crown: Introduction; The McCains ? when the chips are down; IBM ? the Watsons ? a struggle for identity; Bata Shoe ? a struggle for strategy The house that hubris built: Introduction; The Ford family ? parental oppression; The Dart group ? an excess of willpower; Chateau d?Yquem ? the perils of condescension; The Redstone family ? the leader?s iron grip; Solid Waste and the Waxman family ? greed, deception and destruction 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 Schism ? the house divided: 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 Un-civil war: Introduction; U-Haul the shoens ? a shattered dynasty; The Gucci family ? a tragic Italian opera The lessons - the price of war and the prize 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