The Dragon Network ─ Inside Stories of the Most Successful Chinese Family Businesses

This book will include findings about Overseas Chinese family businesses. These findings are based on research, which is conducted in cooperation between The Jakarta Consulting Group and other reputable institutions. Research and literature from notable family business experts will also be included.


The author will discuss and analyze the business life and achievements of some prominent overseas Chinese family business in Asia, such as The Kuoks (Malaysia), The Hartonos the fastest growing Conglomerates (Indonesia), The Liems of Salim Group (Indonesia), The Sy of SM Groups (the Philippines), William Mow of Bugle Boy US; etc. This book will discuss and analyze their life philosophies, their business journey, and their family role in business. Also, this book will provide analysis regarding how the senior generations prepare their children to run the business in the future and how the businesses perform after the younger generations lead the businesses. Various studies have been conducted to reveal the secrets of successful overseas Chinese family businesses, in terms of personal characteristics, managerial style, and cultural values. In this book, I supplement these issues with examples from some overseas Chinese family businesses, particularly in some Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines, and Indonesia. We will find that flexibility, ability to adapt to changing business environment, and resilience contribute to the success of many overseas Chinese family businesses. It is always interesting to discuss about conflict in family businesses. Overseas Chinese family businesses are not exempt. The author will analyze the conflict management in these businesses. This include an in depth analysis of conflicts in the Indonesian herbal Company, Nyonya Meneer. Nyonya Meneer is an example of a family business which can survive after three bitter family conflicts which lasted over 24 years of dispute. Today, it is led by the third generations and has become one of the biggest herbal companies in Indonesia.

A.B. Susanto serves as Chairman of The Jakarta Consulting Group, a leading management consultant firm in Indonesia. He is also known as one of the foremost family business consultants in Indonesia. Susanto is Dean of the Faculty of Economics at President University in Indonesia. He obtained his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Indonesia and his doctorate degree from the University of Dusseldorf, Germany.

PATRICIA SUSANTO is the current CEO of the The Jakarta Consulting Group. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California in 1999 and continues her studies in psychology and human resources at the University of Indonesia and Griffith University, Australia. For the past ten years, she has taken an active interest in family business studies and research. As part of The Jakarta Consulting Group, Susanto has been involved in developing governance for family business in Indonesia.

Chapter 1: Chinese Culture and Family Businesses: The Background


Chapter 2: Revealing Fast-growing Chinese Family Business


Chapter 3: How do overseas Chinese values support business values?


Chapter 4: Overseas Chinese Family Businesses: The two sides of the Coins


Chapter 5: The Secrets: Combining modern management practices and Chinese traditional Values


Chapter 6: Conflict Anatomy and Conflict Management


Chapter 7: The Succession Conundrums


Chapter 8: Developing sustainable businesses