Psychodynamics from the Perspective of Non-family Employees during a Small Family Business Succession

Abstract

This study analyses changes in non-family employees' psychodynamics during the family business succession process. Based on the main principles of human psychodynamics and from a non-family employee's perspective, this study examines how changes implemented in a family business succession influence the daily interaction between family owners and non-family employees. The study has been implemented using qualitative research methods and analysis of reached information was analysed by hermeneutic analysis. Based on case study approach this study has found that employees can influence the planning and the implementation of succession but are not actually the direct participants in this process, which is reserved primarily for the new owner/successor. It is important for the employees' psychodynamic process that they are given information about the succession and the information they are given is acted upon in the manner in which it was originally described. If non-family employees can express their thoughts and possibly influence the implementation of changes, that could lead to an improvement of their overall psychodynamic balance as it relates to the family business. The psychodynamic balance affects the employees work well-being and motivation. If employees are given information that differs greatly from the actions that are implemented within the family business that increases the need to balance the psychodynamic process and further decreases the employees sense of work wellbeing and motivation.