Problem: Family-owned and –managed businesses constitute the majority of organizations worldwide. Yet, although, because of their  special enmeshment of family and business spheres, conflicts constitute a central threat to those types of organizations, not much has been done to study this phenomenon specifically in a family business context. Minding the actuality that especially the family related factors that contribute to the occurrence of role and relationship conflicts within family firms remain understudied, this thesis will take an emotional ownership perspective to examine the phenomenon from a different angle. Purpose: To advance the general understanding of role and relationship conflicts within a family business setting, the purpose of this thesis is to determine the role emotional ownership plays in regard to role and relationship conflicts within family firms. Method: This qualitative study utilizes a case study strategy including a total of six case companies and eight research respondents. Data is thereby collected from semi-structured interviews and documentary secondary data. The analysis of the empirical findings is conducted following a two-step process. First, the empirical findings of the distinct case companies are cross-analyzed. Then the emerging patterns are formulated into a general model. Conclusions: Family owners’/employees’ feelings of emotional ownership towards the firm do influence the occurrence/intensity of role and subsequent relationship conflicts within family firms. The exact nature and impact of this influence will however depend on a number of factors. Those factors include (i) the existence of rules and regulations to govern the separation of family- and work related roles within the family and the firm, (ii) family-related factors, like the existence of a “peacemaker” and/or “decider”, strong family cohesion and/or trust among the family and its members, as well as (iii) cultural factors such as “respect for the elders”.

No description available.

Thesis (B.A. Hons. 1979) from the Department of Psychology, University of Adelaide.

Thesis (M A(Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1979. / Title from title page screen, viewed Feb. 7, 2005. Dissertation Committee: Art Adams (chair), Dale Jackson, William Kelley, John McCarthy, Stanley Rives. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-132) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1976. / Title from title page screen, viewed Dec. 1, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Ronald Laymon (chair), Ronald Halinski, Robert Stefl, John McCarthy, Charles Edwards. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-70) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.Hous.M.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-80) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas Woman's University. / Cover title: Resolution of family-community role conflict in disaster. Bibliography: leaves 84-91.

Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-247).

Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-156).