Umanga Whanaungatanga: Family Business

• Published in: ICSB World Conference Proceedings Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Nicholson, Amber, Woods, Christine, Henare, Manuka
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Washington International Council for Small Business (ICSB) 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Advantages; Competitive advantage; Entrepreneurs; Family owned businesses; Kinship; Principles; Social capital; Society; New Zealand

This is an exploratory paper in which we examine the Maori notion of whanaungatanga and the relevance it may have to the family business concept of familiness in Aotearoa New Zealand. We propose that whanaungatanga - broadly described as kinship relationships that develop a sense of belonging - as one of the cultural tenants of a Maori worldview - could be a critical source of leverage for Maori businesses. We also suggest that familiness is an inherent structure within Maori organisations, family business or otherwise. Familiness denotes the distinct set of resources and capabilities held within the family firm that has the potential to create competitive advantage. This paper puts forward the notion that familiness may have some correlation to spiritual and physical cultural notion of whanaungatanga, yet the latter has the potential to extend much further.