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Institute for Regenerative Systems Architecture^™IRSA^™Catalysing systems designed for renewal

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Family Offices

Governance Informality

Definition

The tendency of family offices to rely on implicit understandings rather than formal governance structures. Informality works while founding members are alive but creates severe problems during transitions.

Example

The patriarch 'just knows' what the family values and makes decisions accordingly. When he dies, there's no documentation of decision criteria, leading to conflict among heirs with different interpretations.

Source

Family Offices Section 7

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Related Terms from Family Offices

Long-Horizon Institution

Institutional Coherence

Decision Fragility (Family Office)

Succession Risk

Purpose Drift (Family Office)

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