This article presents an interdisciplinary approach to the study of nepotism. Nepotism is one of the least-studied and most poorly understood human resource practices, yet its impact on family-owned businesses, which frequently hire family members, is immense. To be effective consultants to family businesses we must have more than an anecdotal appreciation of nepotism. We also must look at nepotism from an interdisciplinary perspective to truly understand the impact that such policies and practices might have on family firms.
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