Family Business Is the World Economy's Secret Driver of Success

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Apr 30, 2015, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's most successful family businesses integrate practicality and innovation, strategy and strong commercial acumen, along with nurturing and care, to create a lasting legacy of entrepreneurial success, long-term growth and family unity. This is according to the EY and Kennesaw State University report Staying power: how do family businesses create lasting success?, which surveyed 25 of the largest family businesses in each of the 21 top global markets.

The importance of family businesses to the global economy is undeniable. This report provides insight on their impact by focusing on seven success factors that make family businesses tick: succession; women in leadership; governance; communication and resolving conflicts; branding; corporate social responsibility, philanthropy and sustainability; and cybersecurity.

Findings show family businesses are fit and strong
In the survey, carried out together with Kennesaw State University's Cox Family Enterprise Center, respondents said they remain entrepreneurial and committed to innovation, even into their second generation and beyond. And they aren't complacent — most have their eyes on growing by investing in new talent, increased production and better systems. The report provides insight into the noteworthy practices, characteristics, and success factors that make these family businesses successful and long-standing.

Carrie Hall, EY Americas Family Business Leader said:

"Overall, the companies surveyed manage to remain entrepreneurial and committed to innovation. Even the oldest family business surveyed, in its ninth generation, does so. What's more interesting is that these companies honor their legacies without being stuck in the ways of the past. Given 64% of the family businesses predict expanding into other markets in 2015, it is apparent they are hungry for growth. To accomplish it, they are investing in new talent, increased production and better systems."

Key best practices for achieving lasting success:

87% have clearly identified who is responsible for succession.
70% are considering a woman for their next CEO.
90% have a board of directors.
90% have regular family or shareholder meetings to discuss business issues.
76% refer to themselves as a family business in their branding.
81% engage in philanthropic activities.
83% expect spending on cybersecurity to increase.

Family businesses are vital to the global economy. They account for more than two-thirds of all companies globally, count many leading household names among their number and provide between 50%-80% of all employment, so it's important we know what are the noteworthy practices and characteristics of the largest among them.

Joe Astrachan PhD, Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, Kennesaw State University said:

"The characteristics and practices of large, long-lived family businesses serve as a model for other family businesses as well as other companies that aspire to maintain an entrepreneurial spirit, innovate and grow consistently."

Seven top-line findings emerge from the report:

Embracing succession: Succession is arguably the most critical, and difficult business issue a family business has to face. More than 87% of the respondents have clearly identified who is responsible for succession, implying that processes to handle traditional transitions as well as potential emergencies are well in place.
Women leaders welcome: Globally, 70% of the world's largest family businesses are considering a woman for their next CEO. They average five women in the C-suite and four being groomed for top leadership positions. More than half (55%) have at least one woman on their board. The survey also shows that those family businesses which have women in leadership positions correlate with better business performance.
In governance, family is first: Nearly all (90%) of the world's largest family businesses have a functioning board of directors and most of those boards are made up of family members. Nearly 50% are exclusively family members, and only 28% have an equal number or greater of non-family voting members on their boards. Family members are considered by far the most trusted advisors with parents heading the lists followed by spouses and then accountants.
Healthy communication, healthy conflict, healthy business: The family owners of the world's largest family businesses report they care deeply about one another (81%). Participants in our survey report that 90% have regular family or shareholder meetings to discuss business issues, 70% have regular family meetings to discuss family issues and 64% have a family council that meets regularly.
From our family to yours: family business branding builds trust: The world's largest family businesses are proud of their companies and their families — 76% report they refer to themselves as a family business in their advertising, websites, social media, press releases and other promotional materials.
Sustainability: leveraging family legacy to build a better future: Survey participants value and implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability practices with more than 50% reporting a high commitment to CSR practices, and an impressive 81% engaging in philanthropy. In addition, 85% have a code of ethics, compared to only 57% of the world's largest companies overall. Around the world, 47% of respondents have a family foundation and 37% report that they will increase their philanthropic activities in 2015.
The specter of cyber risk: Even with the near-constant news of breaches, leaks and billions of dollars in lost revenue due to cybersecurity lapses, the family businesses surveyed appear to be worryingly self-assured in their abilities to identify and respond to ever-evolving cyber threats. The majority (75%) say they are confident or very confident that their business is effectively addressing these risks. Most of the participants (83%) report they expect spending on cyber security to increase. Some family business leaders (25%) don't know how cyber risks affect their businesses. Among those that are enlightened about cyber risk, 55% believe the risk is moderate to high.

Future insights on survey topics coming soon
EY will be releasing a series of in-depth explorations of the key topics covered by this survey. The future insights will delve more deeply into the data and will explore the differences of countries, regions and developed and emerging markets in each of the following topics:

Succession
Women in leadership
Governance
Communication and resolving conflicts
Branding
Corporate social responsibility, philanthropy and sustainability
Cybersecurity

To view the full report, please visit ey.com/stayingpower.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Practice
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international, mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.
ey.com/sgm @EY_Growth

About EY's Family Business Services
EY is a market leader in advising and guiding family businesses. With almost a century of experience supporting the world's most entrepreneurial and innovative companies, we understand the unique challenges they face — and how to address them. We offer a personalized range of services aimed at the specific needs of each individual business — helping it to grow and succeed for generations. Our Family Business Global Center of Excellence is a powerful resource that provides access to our knowledge, insights and experience, connecting family business owners to their peers through the strength of our global network.
ey.com/familybusiness @EY_FamilyBiz

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

About the Cox Family Enterprise Center
Since 1987, the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University has been dedicated to the education, recognition and research of family businesses. As one of the first university-based centers of its kind, the center remains focused on connecting people, ideas and knowledge to create a dynamic community to transform the family business ecosystem and further economic development.
coles.kennesaw.edu/familybusiness

About Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering more than 100
undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. A member of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive university with more than 32,000 students from 130 countries. In January 2015, Kennesaw State and Southern Polytechnic State University consolidated to create one of the 50 largest public universities in the country.
kennesaw.edu

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.

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