Influence and values: The connection between participation and commitment in family firms

Family commitment is critical for the continuity of a family firm, and family ownership does not always translate into a higher commitment to the firm in family members. The heterogeneity among family firms in terms of family members’ commitment may be due to varying degrees of family participation and influence in the firm. In this study, we utilize the theory of psychological ownership to propose that participation, influence, value congruence and commitment are related. Specifically, we hypothesize that family influence and value congruence mediate the relationship between family participation and commitment. Our study expands the current understanding of participation and commitment by recognizing that not all types of participation are the same. Specifically, we investigate how various types of participation affect members’ influence in the firm and their attitude toward the firm.