Family-Owned Businesses and Family-Business Dynamics: Qualitative research.

This article analyzes, in the light of oral history, the influence of the interrelationship between the organizational dynamics of a family-owned business, and the psychosocial processes of the family members who own the business, on the adaptability and direction of the enterprise, and of personal life of people involved. Under a qualitative approach, a basic qualitative research was developed in two family companies in the state of Minas Gerais (southeastern Brazil) considered large and medium-sized, being one inserted on the global market. With theoretical support from the psychosocial perspective, the theme family-owned businesses - characteristics, representativeness, inter-influence among family aspects and organizational dynamics - was explored. Four interviews were conducted with founders, managing partners and probable successors inside the family owner. Results confirmed that the factors that regulate the interaction between the family and the business influence and also determine the adaptability of the enterprise system and the family group's personal life.