Interesses familiares e interesses empresariais: impactos e repercussões na empresa familiar

Abstract

From an innovative life-cycle perspective the present research addresses the recurrent theme of family enterprise. The research is focused mainly on the understanding of the compromises arising between family and enterprise members while sharing managingresponsibilities. Gersick`s 3-circle and life-cycle conceptual models as well as his evolution framework were used to explore how such compromises interfere with a companys functioning. Staffords model for subsistence of family enterprises was also resorted to. Intervening variables such as rationality and interest were defined followingHabermas´ perspective. Other variables used such as power and enterpreneurship conform to Weber´s and Schumpeter´s perspectives respectively. Resort was made to the critical theory given that it was not possible to find answers to the observed phenomena by means of the functionalist theory. A large food manufacturer owned by one same family for 71 years in the Greater Vitória (ES) region, became the qualitativecase study company focused in this research. In the approach of such case use was made of tools like semi-structured interviews, document analyses and observation. Eight company top managers among owners, family members and non-family members, were interviewed. The dominant issues to the company arose from the interviews. Thesettlement process involving the family and enterprise interests were observed and investigated under scenarios of convergence and divergence of interests. Conclusion points to cooperative moments when there is convergence of interests and to conflict when divergence prevails. Further conclusions indicate that: (i) under cooperation best results are attained and high growth indexes are shown (ii) under conflict the companys operational performance is worst, threatening its survival.