Work Values and Family Businesses Choices

Abstract Family businesses are very dependent on decision-making by the owner-manager. The personal beliefs and values system of the decision-maker (owner) create a framework that guides adoption and rejection of goals and consequent behavior; similarly, beliefs and values influence daily choices of a family business. Work values have a more specific meaning than general values and this research intends to emphasize the link between the owner’s work values and selected organizational choices. We have found that specific orientation work values emerged which is significantly related to specific organizational choices and that certain value orientations characterized different generations present in the company. These considerations have implications for the ongoing choices and future of numerous family businesses.