Dysfunction and Deviance Across Family Firms: Varying Reflections of the Dark Side

This book considers the differential occurrence and impact of deviance and dysfunction on family firms.  The author argues that how family systems develop in family, cultural, and societal contexts, strongly affects differences in the types and levels of negative behaviours in family firms. 

By considering the context of recent developments and extensions in family systems theory, this book will guide future research investigating the impact of broader definitions of family to consider socio-legal, social-biological, and role-based families. It provides a retrospective look that lays the groundwork for a future research agenda that can blend and develop current management theory as it relates to family firms with the latest developments in family systems theory.

Roland E. Kidwell is Carl DeSantis Distinguished Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University, USA.  From 2015-2023, he served as department chair of management programs at FAU. He also served as director of the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship where he started the Family Firm Initiative, which provides advising services to family firms in South Florida and holds periodic panel discussions on issues of importance to sustaining family businesses. He is a fellow of the Family Firm Institute and the U.S. Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. His research focuses on issues such as leadership succession, dysfunctional behavior, executive compensation, and corporate governance in family firms.