Organizational structure in family businesses an exploratory study of family businesses in North Lebanon

Abstract

In an attempt to examine the organizational structure of family businesses in the North of Lebanon, particularly their awareness of organizational structure importance, a qualitative research using structured interviews was conducted with fourteen family businesses located in the North of Lebanon. The choice of qualitative research was based on the fact that our research tackles a nascent topic in the Lebanese context. Hence, the qualitative approach has been more valid and appropriate. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Analysis has revealed that clear formal organizational structure is somehow present in addition to virtual informal structures. However, some family businesses are still adopting the one man show structure approach which illustrates the fact that one person is managing the whole business so some family firms are still unaware of the urgent need for such an organizational structure.