1. 10. Relationships and Conflict in the Family Business
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017

2. Why are spouses better equipped to start a company than siblings?
What are the typical relational strengths and weaknesses of teams of spouses, siblings and extended families who are in business together?
Why are spouses better equipped to start a company than siblings?
What does the term ‘family embeddedness’ in relation to a firm mean?
How do societal trends in the structure of the Western family influence the governance of family firms?
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017

3. In what way do context markers play
Given the cultural context in which one is embedded, how do power, distance, individualism/collectivism, family values and gender stereotypes shape preferences for certain types of succession solutions and the governance of family firms?
Consider family firms from a systemic perspective. What can be learned about the functioning of the family, business and ownership systems?
In what way do context markers play
different roles in family firms and nonfamily firms?
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017

4. Why are family firms fertile grounds for conflict?
What are the differences between the justice principles of equity, equality and need?
Why does the equity principle often lead to disputes about fair treatment?
Why are procedural justice and interactive justice of utmost importance in the family firm context?
Why are family firms fertile grounds
for conflict?
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017

5. What is the difference between task and relationship conflict?
How are task and relationship conflict interrelated?
How are the past, present and future interrelated in conflict situations? Why are discussions about the past often not helpful for addressing conflict?
What steps are often seen in conflict escalation?
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017

6. Why is integration often the most promising conflict-management style?
With regard to conflict-management styles, what are the advantages and disadvantages of domination, accommodation, avoidance and compromise?
Why is integration often the most promising conflict-management style?
In what way can the idea of ‘conflict rooms’ help in addressing conflict?
What are the principles of constructive communication?
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017

7. What are the principles of destructive communication?
Why are governance mechanisms often not useful for addressing an existing relationship conflict?
(c) Thomas Zellweger, 2017