Explaining Conflicts Between Active and Non-Active Shareholders in Family Firms

This study aims at analyzing an under-researched and important topic in the context of family business, namely the conflicts between active and non-active shareholders stemming from their different roles and goals. It seeks to understand why and how roles and objectives of non-active shareholders differ in family firms and why and under which circumstances conflicts between active and non-active shareholders arise. Using a multiple-case, inductive research design and drawing on identity theory, we develop a conceptual framework explaining when active and non-active shareholders based also on their different roles and goals tend to get into conflict with one another.