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Project

Communication and conflict in entrepreneurial families

Family businesses are of great importance to our economy. For example, in Belgium they represent 77% of organisations with personnel. In addition, they provide 45% of employment and 33% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). There are numerous entrepreneurial families. To date, there is surprisingly little research on the communication and conflicts within these families, both between and within generations. In particular, the relationships between young adult children and their parents and grandparents. Special questions are being raised about this communication in entrepreneurial families. After all, three systems overlap here, with distinct roles where the family members relate to each other: (1) the relationship as family members; (2) the relationships around working in and managing the family business; (3) actively managing family assets. How do they communicate this and how are potential and actual role problems and role conflicts handled? What role can relative outsiders play in the development of competences within these families? This PhD aims to contribute to the extension of the knowledge about these processes, and the development of methods to support entrepreneurial families in their sustainable development. In order to make this contribution, we work in a multi-methodical way; we foresee a longitudinal multi-case study, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data.

Date:1 Sep 2020 →  Today
Keywords:Family dynamics
Disciplines:Work and organisational psychology
Project type:PhD project