INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, CONFLICTS, AND NEPOTISM IN WOOD-PROCESSING BUSINESSES
Keywords:
family business; wood-processing industry; conflicts; nepotism.Abstract
The article is aimed at defining the quality of interpersonal relationships, the frequency of conflicts, and the degree of nepotism occurring in family businesses operating in the Slovak wood-processing industry. The research was conducted through a questionnaire survey of 362 family businesses, and the collected data were analyzed using statistical methods, specifically a hypothesis test of relative frequency and a modal analysis. The results revealed that positive relationships between family members and employees prevail in most family businesses, conflicts occur rarely, and nepotism is eliminated chiefly through transparent management practices. Confirmed hypotheses indicate a strong connection among relationship quality, conflict levels, and the occurrence of nepotism. The findings suggest that social aspects represent a significant factor in ensuring the stability and competitiveness of family businesses in the analyzed sector, contributing to theoretical knowledge and offering practical recommendations for human resource management and strategic development within family businesses in the wood-processing industry.
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