Destructive and productive family relationships: A stewardship theory perspective

This study utilizes stewardship theory to explain why some family firms flourish while others are plagued by conflict. Our findings suggest that relationship conflict is negatively related and participative strategy process is positively related to family firm performance. In addition, we examine how altruism and control concentration affect relationship conflict and a participative strategy process. Altruism was found to significantly reduce relationship conflict and enhance a participative strategy process. However, control concentration was not significantly related to relationship conflict or a participative strategy process. The implications of our findings are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.