Blood in the boardroom: Family relationships influencing the functions of the board

The board of directors at the family firm is often dominated by family members. While research has acknowledged the presence of the family, it has neglected the actual family composition of the board and the effects it has on the board's activities. We study the family composition of the board through using insights from evolutionary psychology, stressing genetic kinship. We present a model where the contingency of genetic relationships of the family directors influences the functional emphasis of the family firm's board. Testing the hypotheses on a convenience sample of 68 small and medium-sized Swedish family firms, we find indications of genetic kinship influencing the functions of the board. We suggest the development of the family conception along these lines, where the importance of kinship ties and characteristics of nepotism are explored. The practical implication is a recommendation for families to have a conscious strategy to manage nepotism.

► The functions of the board are influenced by the family character of the board composition.
► The family character is conceptualized as nepotism, i.e., as genetic relationships.
► Generation and genetic relationship are not competitors, but complements.
► We suggest the battle ground and training camp boards as ideal-typical boards in family firms.