Analysis of family engagement in the evaluation of organisational effectiveness in family businesses

Abstract

Purpose: This elaboration features an attempt of describing the research sample’s uniformity and estimating the average engagement of family members in the family business’ functioning (hereinafter referred to as family engagement). The study’s context was based on a set of organisational effectiveness factors (identified independent variables) and an evaluation of their significance. In this paper, the effectiveness is deemed as the engagement of family members in the functioning of family businesses. Methodology: The paper presents the results of surveys conducted among 200 Polish family businesses with registered seats in two voivodeships. Organisational effectiveness was measured in terms of 8 key analysis fields identified. Findings: The paper presents the results of own research on organisational effectiveness in family businesses. It especially confirmed the alternative hypothesis that the dependent variable, i.e. family engagement, in terms of evaluating 8 independent variables using statistical tests, does not have a normal distribution. Practical Implications: The obtained results provide the basis for selection and future use of advanced statistical tests enabling the verification of a substantial dependency between the dependent variable (e.g. family engagement) and the independent variables identified within organisational effectiveness fields. Originality/Value: The conducted study supplements the knowledge on strategic management by specifying a set of family member engagement factors in family businesses. When analysing the widespread phenomenon of organisational effectiveness in family businesses, the authors analysed family engagement in terms of the effectiveness’ studied variables.