The Family Influence on Business: Czech Family Companies

Abstract

Research background: Family businesses represent a combination of family and business aspects. Typically, a family is the majority owner and its members are top managers of the firm. The company name often contains the names of family members, i.e. they are publicly known. The family thereby gains recognition through the business operations of its firm, such as socially responsible business practices, and may also be considered a good employer. These aspects constitute its socioemotional wealth (SEW). Family business owners may consider the SEW to be of greater importance than typical corporate management, and this may be a reason for the lower profitability of family businesses. The purpose of the article: The aim of this article is to describe selected factors influencing SEW and to verify their significance on data on Czech family companies. Methods: The research was based on qualitative and quantitative data obtained by a questionnaire survey. Descriptive and statistical methods were used to analyse the formulated assumptions. Findings & value added: Most Czech family companies are run by the first or second generation of family owners. Since they consider their control and influence on their company to be extremely important, family owners do not typically consider the entry of non-family investors into the ownership structure. The assumption that family companies have a low level of indebtedness was not confirmed. The ownership of the company consists of one family, which usually keeps a 100% share. The family has at least one member in the top management. The founder of the company is typically the father. The family prefers to transfer the business to family members; firstly its management, then its ownership.Research background: Family businesses represent a combination of family and business aspects. Typically, a family is the majority owner and its members are top managers of the firm. The company name often contains the names of family members, i.e. they are publicly known. The family thereby gains recognition through the business operations of its firm, such as socially responsible business practices, and may also be considered a good employer. These aspects constitute its socioemotional wealth (SEW). Family business owners may consider the SEW to be of greater importance than typical corporate management, and this may be a reason for the lower profitability of family businesses. The purpose of the article: The aim of this article is to describe selected factors influencing SEW and to verify their significance on data on Czech family companies. Methods: The research was based on qualitative and quantitative data obtained by a questionnaire survey. Descriptive and statistical methods were used to analyse the formulated assumptions. Findings & value added: Most Czech family companies are run by the first or second generation of family owners. Since they consider their control and influence on their company to be extremely important, family owners do not typically consider the entry of non-family investors into the ownership structure. The assumption that family companies have a low level of indebtedness was not confirmed. The ownership of the company consists of one family, which usually keeps a 100% share. The family has at least one member in the top management. The founder of the company is typically the father. The family prefers to transfer the business to family members; firstly its management, then its ownership.