title: Too close and too rigid: applying the Circumplex Model of Family Systems to first-generation family firms.
abstract: Despite growing research interest in family businesses, little is known about the characteristics of the families engaging in them. The present paper uses Olson's (Journal of Psychotherapy & the Family, 1988, 4(12), 7-49; Journal of Family Therapy, 2000, 22, 144-167) Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems to look at first-generation family firms. We describe existing typologies of family businesses and discuss similarities between the characteristics of first-generation family firms and the rigidly enmeshed family type described in the Circumplex Model. The Steinberg family business (Gibbon & Hadekel (1990) Steinberg: The breakup of a family empire. ON, Canada: MacMillan) serves to illustrate the difficulties of rigidly enmeshed first-generation family firms. Implications for understanding troubled family businesses are discussed together with guidelines for the assessment of a family business in crisis and for intervention: enhancing open communication; allowing for more flexible leadership style, roles, and rules; and maintaining a balance between togetherness and separateness.
authors: William Davidson Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. haela5@zahav.net.il
authors: Nava
authors: N
authors: Michael-Tsabari
authors: Yoav
authors: Y
authors: Lavee
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000458:organization & administration; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008960:Models, Psychological