Identify the sources of conflict that explain current relations in the Pritzker family

THE HOUSE OF PRITZKER

Just four years after the death of patriarch Jay Pritzker, one of America’s wealthiest families is being torn apart by sibling rivalry and resentment. At the heart of the dispute is a rift over control of the family businesses and fortune, which include Hyatt Hotels, thousands of apartment units, industrial conglomerate Marmon Group, and stakes in Reliant Pharmaceuticals and First Health Group. Tom, the eldest son, was groomed to lead the family business and had demonstrated the ability to invest and negotiate. But even Tom could not prevent the escalating disputes among other Pritzker family members.

This Business Week case study examines the feud in one of America’s wealthiest families. It describes the tensions that have built up in recent years, and identifies the solutions that Jay Pritzker and his son, Tom, have tried to use to diffuse the conflict. Read through this Business Week article at www.mhhe.com/ mcshane4e and prepare for the discussion questions below.

Discussion Questions

1. Identify the sources of conflict that explain current relations in the Pritzker family.

2. What did Tom do to try to minimize the conflict among family members? Did any of it work? Why or why not?

3. What other organizational behavior concepts seem to be relevant to this story about rivalries in the Pritzker family and its businesses?