Conflict Origin and Management Mechanisms in Family Business Organizations

In spite of an increasing interest in conflict in family firms, our knowledge of how interpersonal conflict dynamics unfold is still in its infancy. By using an interpretive grounded theory approach to in-depth study the “Cake Boss” reality television series, we theoretically, empirically and practically contribute to the origin of conflicts and their management in complex interpersonal dynamics in family firms. In so doing, based on a qualitative analysis of 85 episodes of family business representation plus archival data, we identify four sub-mechanisms - appealing to family unity, imposing organizational goals, engaging in informal and open discussions, commanding communication - assorted in two distinct conflict management mechanisms (cohesion and communication) that can be used by members of family business organizations, mediators and advisors. Then, we offer avenues for future research. The study contributes by advancing knowledge on how conflicts arise and are managed at different levels of analysis, based on the nature (type) of conflict and actors involved; it highlights key conflict management mechanisms specific to conflict types and actors; it advances the understanding of the coexistence of conflict and cohesion, and not inevitably, one the opposite of the other. Finally, our analysis contributes methodologically to the family business and organization fields, by extending research on the use of reality television series and audiovisual data analysis as a visual organizational representation of organizational phenomena.