Title: Success factors of Polish family businesses

Authors: Krystyna Kołodko; Elżbieta Weiss; Agnieszka Bitkowska; Sabina Kauf; Krystyna Leszczewska

Addresses: Law office of Attorney-at-law, 02-736 Warsaw, 59 Wróbla Street, Poland ' Department of Management, University of Finance and Management, 55 Pawia Street, Warszawa 01-030, Poland ' Department of Management, University of Finance and Management, 55 Pawia Street, Warszawa 01-030, Poland ' Department of Logistics and Marketing, Faculty of Economics, University of Opole, Street: 46 Ozimska, Opole 45-058, Poland ' The Institute of Entrepreneurship, Łomża State University of Applied Sciences, 14 Akademicka Street, Łomża 18-400, Poland

Abstract: This article presents the results of a study carried out among family businesses operating in Poland. It is intended to supplement previously generated knowledge in the area of the operation of family businesses in the specific socio-economic and legal conditions in Poland. The objective was to collate the opinions of entrepreneurs regarding the need for visibility of the family and the family business status in business relations and the marketing activities of enterprises. The data were collected using in-depth interviews with the Polish family business owners. This paper outlines the conclusion of the study with respect to success factors such as: the trust among the family members, flexibility and adaptability to changing market conditions or the ability to act flexibly and quickly, adapt to changes in the environment and success-hindering factors for Polish family firms such as: the financial challenges borne by employers like taxes and social security costs or the instability of the law.

Keywords: Poland; family firms; family business; success factors; barriers; trust; flexibility; adaptability; market conditions; financial challenges; taxes; social security costs; legal instability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2017.082545

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2017 Vol.16 No.1/2, pp.128 - 149

Accepted: 17 Sep 2016
Published online: 28 Feb 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article