Family Management Style as a Way of Handling Your Own Business
CHAPTER 1
The Problem and Its Setting
INTRODUCTION
When you put up your own money and operate your own business, you prize your independence. It's MY business, you can tell yourself, in good times and in bad. In a family company, however, it's OUR business.
A family business is any business in which a majority of the ownership or control lies within a family, and in which two or more family members are directly involved. It is also a complex, dual system consisting of the family and the business; family members involved in the business are part of a task system (the business) and part of a family system.
The family is always of vital importance in the Philippines; not surprisingly, most business organizations are modeled on the Filipino family. The boss and subordinate often exist in a bata relationship, basically like that between parent and child (bata literally meaning "child"). As a consequence, paternalistic management styles are the norm. A paternalistic management structure implies that decision making in most organizations is done at the top.
Rights and responsibilities are different at home than at work, and it is imperative that family members keep this fact in mind. At home family relationships and goals are the prime concern. Language is personal, attitudes are subjective, roles -- husband/wife, parent/child, family/relatives/in-laws -- are traditionally defined. At work, however, the success of the business must be paramount. Language becomes more impersonal, attitudes more objective. Family members who work in the business must accept the boss/employee relationship, as they would in any other business. Their job descriptions must be clear, in writing and adhered to. Problems arising at home should be left there when the workday begins and workplace problems should not encroach on home life. Family members who accept and observe the home/business dichotomies not only avoid strained personal relationships,
The Problem and Its Setting
INTRODUCTION
When you put up your own money and operate your own business, you prize your independence. It's MY business, you can tell yourself, in good times and in bad. In a family company, however, it's OUR business.
A family business is any business in which a majority of the ownership or control lies within a family, and in which two or more family members are directly involved. It is also a complex, dual system consisting of the family and the business; family members involved in the business are part of a task system (the business) and part of a family system.
The family is always of vital importance in the Philippines; not surprisingly, most business organizations are modeled on the Filipino family. The boss and subordinate often exist in a bata relationship, basically like that between parent and child (bata literally meaning "child"). As a consequence, paternalistic management styles are the norm. A paternalistic management structure implies that decision making in most organizations is done at the top.
Rights and responsibilities are different at home than at work, and it is imperative that family members keep this fact in mind. At home family relationships and goals are the prime concern. Language is personal, attitudes are subjective, roles -- husband/wife, parent/child, family/relatives/in-laws -- are traditionally defined. At work, however, the success of the business must be paramount. Language becomes more impersonal, attitudes more objective. Family members who work in the business must accept the boss/employee relationship, as they would in any other business. Their job descriptions must be clear, in writing and adhered to. Problems arising at home should be left there when the workday begins and workplace problems should not encroach on home life. Family members who accept and observe the home/business dichotomies not only avoid strained personal relationships,