Power and conflict in organizations: the case of a family company in the civil construction industry

Abstract

This teaching case tells the story of a family-owned civil construction company operating in the construction materials trade, focusing on the power and conflict relations existing in it. Throughout the case we present the dilemmas faced by Construction & Company, which occur between the father and his children and also between the siblings themselves, related to the department they manage. The founder and current owner of the company considers that at the moment no changes are necessary in the organization. However, his three children consider important to adapt to the current context and, consequently, internal conflicts in the store appear. No action can be taken in the company without the approval of the patriarch of the family, who has more power and is responsible for the decision-making process. This way, this case aims to report the problems of this organization and stimulate the students to think and propose possible solutions for them. It is hoped that the students will understand the different power and conflict relations present in family businesses, which will be done by approaching theory and practice.