Conflict within Colombian Family Owned SMEs

Abstract

Micro and SMEs represent 96% of the companies legally constituted and registered at the Chambers of Commerce in Colombia, and between 70% and 90% are mainly family owned businesses. Many of Colombia's largest companies and most successful business groups were born as family companies. However several researches and investigations developed by EAN University have revealed that these Family Businesses are a constant focus of conflicts. Why? What makes them so prone to conflict? The purpose of this work is to show the possible causes of this grim reality, and to offer some alternatives for proprietors to take these arousing conflicts to transform them into opportunities for improvement, giving their organizations an opportunity to be sustainable over time.