Deconstructing Conflict: Understanding Family Business, Shared Wealth and Power

by Doug Baumoel, Blaire Trippe

Deconstructing Conflict draws upon nearly fifteen years of experience in which Doug Baumoel and Blair Trippe have helped scores of enterprising families navigate the challenges of owning and managing together as family. Based upon their groundbreaking methodology known as "The Conflict Equation," the book presents five foundational concepts to help readers deconstruct conflict into its component parts. It will help you understand the reasons that underlie all conflict, what triggers active conflict, and why conflict can be so extreme and intractable in family business systems. This book will arm family business stakeholders and their advisors with the most cutting-edge thinking for achieving generational success in family enterprise.

226 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2016

Reviews

[David Werdiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great model for understanding what drives conflict in family systems. They use a mathematical formula which lays out the things (both background and triggers) that increase conflict, and the things that moderate it. Many families have latent conflict ready to explode, and it seems like the smallest thing that sets it off, but you need to look deeper into the context to really understand why & how it was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

In particular, the idea of "disrespected power" really resonated with me personally and in the work that I do as an advisor to families.

[Doug Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doug and Blair have written a useful model that describes the complexity of family businesses. I particularly liked their detailed explanations of the stakeholder map and the family factor continuum. Their equation can help family owned business leaders, advisors and consultants consider possible next steps to reduce anxiety.

I met Doug at a Family Firm Institute conference and he encouraged me to read this book. I encourage you to adopt the useful context, and recognize that the equation is qualitative.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good for family businesses looking to work on removing conflict from their family at work and even families looking to set business goals while keeping the family's core values.

This would be a great exercise for my sibling family on how to continue JDK on and into the future...

[Katie]

DNF