This week, Joanne Whelan, a partner with Deloitte in Ireland,
looks at conflict in family businesses.
It is no secret that family businesses are complex. This
complexity arises from a mixture of family chemistry, diverse
family priorities, and the organisational challenges and
opportunities which most businesses face. It can often lead to a
degree of conflict in family businesses - lines may be more easily
crossed and disagreements can become more heated, and personal
relationships with family members can cloud judgement when it comes
to making business decisions.
Based on my own experience of working with family businesses,
there are a few main areas that often give rise to conflict among
family members:
