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Conflicts in family firms : A study on the positive effects of conflict in family firms

Introduction: Family firms serve as major block in the economy all over the world, i.e. it’s significance cannot be understated. In spite of this, many firms fail to continue the firm’s quest beyond the second generation partly because of conflicts in the firm. Conflicts, which could be divided into task, relationship and process conflict, have been deemed to only be detrimental for family firms. As such, limited knowledge exists as to what positive effects conflict may bring about in family firms. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore what the positive effects of different conflict types may be in family firms. The different conflict types are in this respect deemed to be task, relationship and process conflict. Method: The empirical material used for the purpose of this study has been gathered through 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 9 different family firms. The data collected has subsequently been analyzed and conceptualized using grounded analysis (codes to themes) with an overall inductive method. Conclusion: Our findings and analysis suggest that several positive effects are associated with the different conflict types in family firms and that the family dimension of the firm work as enablers for these effects to occur. Task conflict produces a sharpened environment for task accomplishment through the enabler proximity to top level of firm. Relationship conflict result in stronger group cohesion through the enabler family feeling. Process conflict generate improved focus on task through the enabler going concern of the firm.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hj-43830
Date January 2019
CreatorsPetros, Tesfai, Selmir, Fazlic
PublisherInternationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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