Existing in most family firms, the chief emotional officer （CEmO） is the enigmatic heart of the organisation, linking family harmony with business performance and productivity. The literature is rich in acknowledgin...Existing in most family firms, the chief emotional officer （CEmO） is the enigmatic heart of the organisation, linking family harmony with business performance and productivity. The literature is rich in acknowledging the existence and value of the CEmO in family firms, but little is said of the abilities mastered by CEmOs and how organisations can leverage the value of the CEmO through professional development. It is this nexus that this paper aims to fill. Commencing with an exploration of the literature on the purpose and value of the CEmO, key findings are advanced through interviews and a focus group. The specific site of research selected is one rich in family business in which to explore the CEmO phenomenon--the bus and coach industry in Victoria, Australia. Revealed is the fundamental competencies of the CEmO, being their adept ability to facilitate harmony, drive productive and focus values-based decision making in family firms. The outcomes that these competencies achieve and the obstacles and challenges of the CEmO role are also presented. Concluding remarks ask how the CEmO and these core competencies can be developed in a role that is often unstructured, intuitive, and unrecognised within the firm.展开更多
文摘Existing in most family firms, the chief emotional officer （CEmO） is the enigmatic heart of the organisation, linking family harmony with business performance and productivity. The literature is rich in acknowledging the existence and value of the CEmO in family firms, but little is said of the abilities mastered by CEmOs and how organisations can leverage the value of the CEmO through professional development. It is this nexus that this paper aims to fill. Commencing with an exploration of the literature on the purpose and value of the CEmO, key findings are advanced through interviews and a focus group. The specific site of research selected is one rich in family business in which to explore the CEmO phenomenon--the bus and coach industry in Victoria, Australia. Revealed is the fundamental competencies of the CEmO, being their adept ability to facilitate harmony, drive productive and focus values-based decision making in family firms. The outcomes that these competencies achieve and the obstacles and challenges of the CEmO role are also presented. Concluding remarks ask how the CEmO and these core competencies can be developed in a role that is often unstructured, intuitive, and unrecognised within the firm.
