Emergency Exits: Who will lead the pack?
Maurice Fisher , the owner of a huge energy conglomerate, in the Academy award winning movie Inception, dies after prolonged illness. The heir apparent, Maurice's son, Robert Fisher inherits the business empire and is unwillingly forced in to the family business. Saito, industry mogul and Fisher's competitor, along with his team of dream stealers succeeds, in bringing the subconscious disinterest in Robert to realization; he eventually decides to disintegrate his mammoth empire to follow his heart. Though a Hollywood movie plot, yet the fall of the Fisher empire can prove to be a meaningful case study for most organizations.
The strained father-son relationship, Maurice's distrust in his successor's potential and absence of a succession plan was sufficient to jeopardize the survival of the company after its owner's death. The case is not typical to family- run businesses.
Organizations all across the globe have no escape from such situations where the cherished visionaries in the form of CEOs, Board members and leaders may meet their fate through death, disease or personal interests that may overpower the need of the hour. Such companies not only lag behind, they may also end in a state of limbo for a very long time.