family influence in individual ethics
Acta Polytechnica Hungarica
Vol. 6, No. 3, 2009
The Influence of a Family on Ethical Behaviour of a Family Enterprise
Mojca Duh, Jernej Belak
Faculty of Economics and Business Maribor
Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Phone: ++ 386 2 22 90 000; Fax: ++ 386 2 25 10 461
E-mail: mojca.duh@uni-mb.si, jernej.belak@uni-mb.si
Abstract: Family enterprises are defined as a special type of enterprises. The involvement of a family in the enterprise is what makes these enterprises unique. The research presented in the paper aims to broaden our knowledge about the influence of a family on the ethical behaviour of a family enterprise. The case study research methodology was applied to explore the influence of a family on the constitutional elements of the enterprise ethical behaviour. The pre-designed questionnaire was used in conducting face-to-face interviews with 28 managers who were in most cases also owners of the studied enterprises.
Keywords: family, family enterprise, case study, ethical behaviour
1
Introduction
At the most basic level a family enterprise may be defined as an enterprise, which is controlled by members of a family. However, family enterprises are not homogenous. Empirical research has revealed that, among others, family enterprises vary regarding the degree of family involvement in ownership and management [2, 3, 54, 63]. The family is an intimate room where the core values, culture as well as ethical climate of the family as well as of the broader environment is shaped, and where the first social relationships are formed, which differ from relationships with people outside the family circle. The process of family education and upbringing form the foundation for the focused expectations of every single family member upon which the trust and firmness of family relations are built [5]. The family system forms fundamental principles, core values, which can be seen as the guidelines in setting the vision, mission
Vol. 6, No. 3, 2009
The Influence of a Family on Ethical Behaviour of a Family Enterprise
Mojca Duh, Jernej Belak
Faculty of Economics and Business Maribor
Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Phone: ++ 386 2 22 90 000; Fax: ++ 386 2 25 10 461
E-mail: mojca.duh@uni-mb.si, jernej.belak@uni-mb.si
Abstract: Family enterprises are defined as a special type of enterprises. The involvement of a family in the enterprise is what makes these enterprises unique. The research presented in the paper aims to broaden our knowledge about the influence of a family on the ethical behaviour of a family enterprise. The case study research methodology was applied to explore the influence of a family on the constitutional elements of the enterprise ethical behaviour. The pre-designed questionnaire was used in conducting face-to-face interviews with 28 managers who were in most cases also owners of the studied enterprises.
Keywords: family, family enterprise, case study, ethical behaviour
1
Introduction
At the most basic level a family enterprise may be defined as an enterprise, which is controlled by members of a family. However, family enterprises are not homogenous. Empirical research has revealed that, among others, family enterprises vary regarding the degree of family involvement in ownership and management [2, 3, 54, 63]. The family is an intimate room where the core values, culture as well as ethical climate of the family as well as of the broader environment is shaped, and where the first social relationships are formed, which differ from relationships with people outside the family circle. The process of family education and upbringing form the foundation for the focused expectations of every single family member upon which the trust and firmness of family relations are built [5]. The family system forms fundamental principles, core values, which can be seen as the guidelines in setting the vision, mission
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