Santa Clara University

Crafting the Family Business Constitution

February 25, 2010
8:30a.m. - 11:30a.m.
Program fee: $145
Santa Clara University campus

Online registration for this event.

This program is designed to give the participants an overview of what a Family Constitution is and what is can do for your family business. A breakdown in family relationships in one of the major reasons why family businesses do not survive to the next generation. The process of crafting a family business constitution helps a family understand an effective alternative to resolving issues and anticipating areas of possible conflict. 

There is a saying that "Behind every successful business is an enriching and supportive environment that made success possible." In a family business, this "enriching and supportive FAMILY environment" can be developed through the participative process of crafting the Family Constitution. This process tackles potentially explosive issues such as succession & retirement, compensation and privileges, hiring and firing of family members, handling in-laws, and dividend sharing.

This program will present a structured framework that will help family businesses address highly emotional issues effectively in a non-emotional format. Doing so will enable the family to formulate guidelines that will foster family harmony and provide the "enriching and supportive FAMILY environment" needed to move the family business forward.

Participants in this program will:

• Learn the benefits of crafting the Family Constitution for family relationships and the financial health of the family business.
• Understand the process/stages of crafting the Family Constitution.
• Develop an understanding of how families can better handle family issues as they apply to business through the crafting of the Family Constitution.
• Understand the basic structures of family business governance such as the Family Council, the Board of Directors, the Family Office, the Family Fund, and how these can be structured in the Family Constitution.

Selected topics to be covered:

• The meaning of Family Constitution
• Benefits of a Family Constitution to family dynamics
• Financial benefits of a Family Constitution to the family business
• Types of Family Agreements
• Components of a Family Constitution
• Roles and functions of the different governance structures in the Family Business and the family member's role/s and responsibilities in each
• Succession Planning in the Family Constitution
• Amending the Family Constitution

Who should attend?

Owners, family members, entrepreneurs, students, professionals involved in family businesses, and others who are dealing with family businesses.

Faculty

Ricardo H. Mercado (Ricky) has been a part-time faculty since 1994 at the Ateneo de Manila University a Jesuit institution, teaching Family Business Management, Business Franchising, and Strategic Management. He studied at the same University finishing his undergraduate degree in Economics and his Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He has learned the skills of Counseling and Family Dynamics by taking the Diploma Course at The Center for Family Ministries (CEFAM), Loyola House of Studies of Ateneo University. He was the founder and past Director of the Family Business Development Center of the John Gokongwei School of Management, Ateneo de Manila University. He has taught Family Business Management at San Francisco State University and has been an invited speaker in the Family Business class at Santa Clara University. He is a consultant for several companies pertaining to Family Business Management, Franchising, and Strategic Management. Ricky has been part of a large family business in the Philippines.

Cancellation policy and refunds:

Cancellations made more than one week prior to a program will incur a $25 processing fee. For cancellations that occur less than one week prior to a program, no refund will be given. If a participant is a no-show for a program, no refund will be given. A full refund will be given in the event the program is canceled.

Substitutions:

Participant substitutions are allowed for all programs. The substitute information must be sent by email - scuedc@scu.edu or call 408-554-4521 with the substitute information: name, job title, email address, and phone number no later than 4 p.m. the day before the program begins. If you are unable to attend and cannot send a substitute, we offer a one time credit to attend another half day program.