Final answer:
The presence of outside board members is not a challenge to family unity in family businesses; instead, challenges stem from internal family dynamics and generational differences. Issues such as miscommunication, varying values, and the strains of domestic issues like divorce and abuse more directly impact family unity in a business context.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the options provided, the presence of outside board members or managers is not a challenge to family unity regularly faced by family businesses. On the contrary, outside board members can bring objectivity and expertise to a family business that may be missing due to the close personal relationships within a family-operated company. It is the internal factors such as geographically-separated family members, a failure to provide constructive discussion of sensitive issues, and infrequent family councils or meetings that typically pose challenges to maintaining family unity within a business context.
Working alongside different generations poses challenges such as differing values and communication styles, resistance to change, and the potential for intergenerational conflict. Furthermore, as families evolve, new challenges emerge, such as adapting to the effects of divorce or remarriage on family dynamics, and addressing ongoing issues like domestic abuse and its impact on family members.