Familienunternehmen - Blinder Fleck der Familientherapie?

Abstract

The dynamic processes operating within a family that owns and runs a business are influenced by that business. Vice versa, the business will also be influenced by the family. First of all, a family business will increase complexity in the family context. On the other hand, the family changes the capital (of all kinds) that the business can draw upon. But the significance of the business for the family is even greater because of the differences in the logics operative in these two systems in terms of communication, equalisation and justice. Where these logics are contradictory, the outcome is an exponential increase of potential conflicts in the two systems thus coupled. This vulnerability of the coupled system calls for complexity management, leadership and the harmonisation of family- and business-related strategies. The ideal solution is awareness and self-reflection on the part of all those involved.