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Custom Programs
Customized Programs for Families in Business
Customized programs are tailored for the specific needs of individual families. They are available upon request and are designed together with the family.
| "Customized programs provide an in-depth, tailor-made approach to understanding and resolving the challenges faced by a specific family business." |
Joachim Schwass, Professor of Family Business Director of the IMD Global Family Business Center |
Program Offerings
We assist families with a full range of family and business relationship issues including succession, governance and strategy. Depending on your needs, we can design either a theme-based program to deal with issues of concern to your entire organization, or a program aimed at a specific interest group.
IMD is world-renowned for its almost 25 years of experience in advanced research and in helping families and their key managers from leading global family businesses construct effective platforms for a sustainable future. Our tailor-made programs, which are developed closely with the family, have a reputation for being inspirational in unlocking the momentum needed to keep moving forward.
Over one or more modules, our Faculty will work with family members, key stakeholders and management to develop a strategy and implementation plan unique to the business.
- Benchmarking the Family Business
A one-day program for family members and their senior executives (optional). An IMD Family Business Faculty member will spend a day with the family facilitating an open discussion on current issues and concerns. This begins with a presentation of the typical challenges for families in business as well as best practices applied by globally leading family businesses. It is an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas and, at the end of the day, come away with and overview of what works well and what requires attention. The day concludes with recommendations on the best way forward for all involved.
- Mastering Generational Transition
Three-module integrative and development stream:
Families with businesses and wealth encounter the biggest strategic threat to survival before, during and after generational transitions. A generational transition is a rare experience and this typically implies a lack of understanding in how to fully appreciating the needs and concerns of a multitude of stakeholders and how to manage this process. Furthermore, in growing families, the historic benchmark is often the wrong guideline for planning future transitions. Families often find themselves caught up in emotional issues that complicate the creation of the effective governance structures, ownership structures and business strategies that will be required to move the business into the hands of the next generation.
This stream of program modules is designed to provide a focused and structured process to boost and de-emotionalize the generational transition planning process. It is an ideal combination of high-level content and an intense development process that addresses the special needs of individual families in business.
- Theme-based Programs
Designed to address general or specific learning and change objectives:
- Governance of the business and family
- Strategic options for the business and family
- Planning and execution of generational transition
- Family relationships and conflict management
- Broadening the understanding of inactive family members
- Strengthening relationships between family and non-family managers
- Optimizing your family business culture
- Interest-group Programs
Designed to address specific groups or combination of groups within the family business:
- All family members
- Family owners
- Family board members
- Family managers
- Inactive family members
- Family in-laws
- Next generation family members
- Non-family board members
- Non-family managers
Participants' testimonials
| "A catalyst for change and a starting point for NG to understand its current and possible future role" |
3rd generation participant |
| "IMD does not give you the answer, but it gives you the ability to come to the answer that is right for you. The global aspect is superb." |
16th generation participant |
| "The program gives structure to emotional issues, opens debate about direction of growth and develops tools and knowledge to tackle problems" |
4th generation participant |
Benefits
Families in business who have participated in one or more of our customized programs have drawn a number of benefits including the following:
- A structured approach to highly complex issues & challenges
- A rational discussion and development framework
- Development of a structure for the learning and change process
- A compact timetable
- A reduction in emotional levels
- Improved family cohesion
- Adaptability to specific needs
- Built on IMD global and hands-on experience
- Absolute confidentiality
- Optional location and timing
Process - IMD faculty work closely with family before, during and after the program to ensure that they are addressing the specific family and business needs.
- Initial discussion and inquiry by family.
- In-depth discussion between family members involved in organizing the program and IMD Faculty to understand the objectives of the family. Potential program dates are determined.
- IMD prepares and presents a detailed proposal including a draft outline and the fee structure.
- IMD finalizes the program design in close collaboration with the family.
- Program delivery.
- Post-program follow-up and review.
Examples of other special programs
The examples below provide an insight into our special customized programs:
Programs for family offices
Family offices have become increasingly important for many large family groups in providing a positive interface between the family and the business. IMD works with your family to help develop a clear vision of family aims and how these relate to the business. This process can also provide non-family executives and directors with a greater understanding for family and business needs.
Interfacing with private companies
Many industries count a predominant number of privately held businesses among their suppliers and customers, e.g. retailers, dealers and franchisees. Because disruptions in these businesses can impact performance, IMD works with leading companies that wish to help their suppliers and customers plan ahead on issues that affect private organizations.
Customized programs for business partners and service providers to family businesses
IMD works with business partners and service providers to family businesses, such as banks, headhunters, consulting and educational groups, to offer programs on family business issues, traditionally tied to projects or seminars. Including a program on family business issues at educational events for family business partners and service providers has proven to be highly useful to many privately controlled organizations. Gatekeeper programs as these enhance the understanding of key issues and reinforce the culture critical to the success of the business.
Our team is available to discuss your educational needs to help determine the best possible educational solution for your family and your family business. Please call Lise Moeller; tel. +41 21 618 03 29 or e-mail / lise.moeller@imd.org.
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