The Influence of Confucian Ideology on Conflict in Chinese Family Business

The dual-concern conflict model argues that choice of conflict strategies are based on two concerns: concern for interests or goals of self and other. This article argues that the dual-concern model may only partially account for choice of conflict management strategies in Chinese family businesses, particularly in families that are strongly influenced by Confucianism. The article uses Confucian values and norms, which are an ancient set of guidelines for social interaction, as the basis for introducing additional concerns to explain choice of conflict strategies in Chinese family businesses: concern for relationships, interpersonal norms, and collective interests. Two sets of moderating variables are introduced based on the unique features of Confucian ideology. They include differences in age, status, and gender between conflicting parties, and types of conflict – normative or personal goal related, and task or relationship. Propositions summarize the major arguments.