Digital Family Management

The WIFU Foundation's publication WIFU_compact_04: Digital Family Management (2023) examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on family management in entrepreneurial families and shows how digital formats can help maintain communication, exchange, and relationships. The starting point is the central role of family management as a component of family governance, the functionality of which was significantly impaired by contact restrictions and lockdowns.

The publication states that deficits in digital infrastructure and a lack of technical skills, in particular, make intra-family communication more difficult. Based on experiences from digital WIFU events, typical problem areas are identified and practice-proven digital formats are presented, including digital family discussions, digital shareholder meetings, structured information rounds, and digital family platforms. These formats are described as suitable tools for ensuring both informal bonding communication and formal decision-making processes.

Finally, it outlines the organisational, didactic, and safety requirements for effectively implementing digital family management. Topics covered include regularity, clear communication rules, qualification of those involved, and the protection of sensitive family data. The publication is based on the expert article „Management of the Entrepreneurial Family 4.0“ by Tom Rüsen (2021) and transfers its key findings to the practical reality of entrepreneurial families.