In 2011, Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited, a global pigment company with sales in over 40 countries, was poised to become one of the top four pigment producers in the world. The vice-chairman was about to meet with an external consultant whom he had hired when he assumed leadership of the family business in 2003 following the demise of both the founders — his father and eldest uncle. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the various initiatives that had been undertaken at Sudarshan since 2003 to systematically professionalize the group. The vice-chairman could not help wondering whether the company was heading in the right direction. Should a family member always be the head of the business? What if the family member being prepared for the leadership role did not gain the acceptance of the family and non-family professionals to lead the business?
Most family businesses do not survive beyond two or three generations. One of the main reasons for this short lifespan is the lack of governance mechanisms in family businesses. With better family governance, business development becomes a richer experience and continuity is ensured across generations. This case is about an Indian family business, GMR Group, which was established a quarter-century ago, and by 2010 had become one of the major diversified infrastructure organizations in the country, with large-scale interests in infrastructure (energy, roads, and airports) and manufacturing (agri-business, mainly sugar). Since its founding, the Group had come a long way, from an independent proprietary enterprise to a family-owned holding corporation with several companies under its control, along with external stakeholders. The growth of the group had been led by the entrepreneurial zeal and organizational capabilities of its founder, G.M. Rao. Having seen many family businesses breaking up for lack of adequate governance mechanisms, Rao led the way for the writing of his family business's constitution with the help of several experts in 2007. The writing process of the constitution and the policies and processes developed were optimal for maximizing GMR's performance and the family's prosperity in current and future generations. This case captures the essential processes and outcomes of writing a family business constitution.
There are not many families in the world that can claim continuity of existence for over 76 generations in business or otherwise. Families that survive over the long term tend to have strong values that are in line with the basic principles of trusteeship — to preserve and grow wealth (both material and otherwise) for the benefit of future generations. This case is based on the history and current challenges of the Mewar dynasty, who ruled part of India for 13 centuries. The family must consider the issue of succession and continuity in its palace hotel business and non-commercial activities.
Most family businesses do not last long. Only one-third are able to survive the transition from the first to second generation. A critical issue in the survival of family businesses is the management of succession. Most successions fail because first-generation founders find it difficult to disengage from their business as they approach the age of retirement. As a result, they fail to prepare the next generation of successors for the leadership role. A founder’s failure to plan for succession is due to various reasons, such as a lack of non-work interests, psychological identity with a firm, and fears of aging or death. Due to these reasons, the founder’s retirement is frequently portrayed as a negative event. Succession, in turn, is often seen as a phase of crisis and upheaval, which a business must overcome. However, this need not necessarily be the case. Retirement can be a new and exciting phase of life, while succession can be viewed as a strategic opportunity to revive a business.<br><br>This case involves an accomplished business leader, B.K. Jhawar, founder of Usha Martin Group, who successfully managed the twin challenges of retirement and succession. By the time he reached the age of retirement, Jhawar had built up a social venture (KGVK) as his second career. Before completely disengaging from the business and transitioning to his new role full-time, Jhawar prepared the second generation for business leadership and effectively passed on the baton.
The case considers the dilemma faced by the second generation managing director of Ujwal Bharati Pharmaceuticals, a mid-size business in India. Among other issues related to corporate and family governance, he has to decide whether to retain his non-family CEO or not.This case was written in the context of the major efforts made by mid-size Indian family businesses in recent years to professionalize their operations. While the director appreciates the need to professionalize and successfully recruit non-family professionals, he is not able to retain them. The director's major dilemma is not only to delegate but to simultaneously find a way of making use of his time. Indirect opposition to changes from the old guard causes problems and the board, consisting of professionals, is ineffective. The director's elder brother, without any male heir, is non-interfering and the director's only son is not ready for the position.The case is best suited for a session on professionalization of management of a growing company but is also appropriate for courses such as family businesses, organizational behaviour, strategy implementation and entrepreneurship.
This case presents the management challenges of a high-growth manufacturing company based in India that is contemplating a major international acquisition. Its decision will involve both geographic and product diversification. Students have to grapple with the trade-offs of an exciting growth opportunity that can bring the company to new heights against significant risks and challenges that such an acquisition would entail. The case also provides an excellent context for studying the evolution of international strategy in a firm, as it shows Havells growing from an entrepreneurial start-up trading company to a successful manufacturing firm and then a global company.