globalisation

Most people agree that there is an ongoing and unstoppable trend towards more globalisation. Some people think this is good, some that it is bad, but much business and political discourse accepts that it is true. But it is not. The world is less globally connected today than it was in 2007, and global connectedness also falls far short of the levels commonly assumed by business executives and the general public.

As much as I consider myself a realist on matters related to the global economy – indeed some call me a pessimist – never would I have believed that in my lifetime I would be seeing anything remotely resembling the 1930s.

The gravity of the current situation is beginning to be recognised. The recovery is likely to be “L-shaped”; the global economy could be entering a “lost decade”, comparable to what Japan experienced after its crash and financial implosion in 1991. But that was one country, now it’s the world.

In today's globalised world, taking the family business global is unavoidable if the family wants to stay together as owners. François de Visscher and Jane Simms assess the challenges and opportunities that confront families who are faced with this decision

When family businesses expand beyond their national borders, the very fabric that made them successful can be torn apart by the forces of globalisation.
 

Mark Dye is a freelance journalist based in London.

International expansion of a family business raises all sorts of questions in the boardroom. But just how do shareholders factor in increasing capital demands while striving to retain family values? Mark Dye reports on the complexities of globalisation

There are two sides to every story and this is no different when it comes to family businesses looking at international growth. While there is excitement at the prospect of the opportunity and potential such a foray brings, it can be tempered by potential problems.