Measuring Family Emotional Commitment

For each statement below choose the number that best describes your agreement. After you have completed and scored the assessment compare your responses with others family members to discusshow you relate to the family business and what factors positively or negatively affect that relationship.

_____1. I am willing to put in a great deal of effort beyond that normally expected in order to help the family business be successful.

_____2. I support the family business in discussions with employees and other family members.

_____3. I feel loyalty to the family business.

_____4. I find that my values are compatible with the business’ values.

_____5. I am proud to tell others that I am part of a business family.

_____6. There is much to be gained by participating with the family business on a long-term basis.

_____7. I agree with the family business’ goals, plans and policies.

8. I really care about the fate of the family group.

_____9. Deciding to be involved with the family business has had a positive influence on my life.

____ 10. I understand and support the family’s future vision for the business.

_____ Total Points

Average Score: Divide the Total Points by 10 to calculate your average score for discussion.

RESPONSE CHOICES:POINTS

1 Strongly Disagree2 Moderately Disagree3 Neither Agree Nor Disagree• Moderately Agree • Strongly Agree

2007 R. S. Carlock. Adapted from: R.T. Mowday, R.M. Steers and L.W. Porter, ‘The Measurement of Organizational Commitment,’ Journal of Vocational Behavior, 14 (1979) 224-247.

Exercise: Family Communication Questionnaire

Listed below are a series of statements that represent possible feelings that individuals might have about their family. Based on your feelings about your family, please indicate your degree of agreement or disagreement with each statement by using one of the five response choices below to rate each statement. Total your points as a tool for discussing family communications.

RESPONSE CHOICES

For each of the following statements, choose the number that best describes your family:

_____ 1. Family members are satisfied with how we communicate with each other.

_____ 2. Family members are good listeners.

_____ 3. Family members express affection to each other.

_____ 4. Family members talk about important issues.

_____ 5. When angry, family members avoid saying things that would be better left unsaid.

_____ 6. Family members discuss their beliefs and ideas with each other.

_____ 7. When family members ask questions of each other, we get honest answers.

_____ 8. Family members try to understand each other’s feelings.

_____ 9. Family members calmly discuss problems with each other.

_____ 10. We express our true feelings to each other

_____ Total Points

 

1DOES NOT

describe ourfamily at all

2SLIGHTLY

describes ourfamily

3SOMEWHAT

describes ourFamily

4GENERALLY

describes our family

5VERY WELL

describes our family

© 1996 D. H. Olson. Family Social Science. University of Minnesota. Modified 1999 by Randel S. Carlock

Business families need to begin their family business planning by considering the values and beliefs that influence their behavior and decisions. The following short statements are discussion stimulators to help business families consider their shared values.

Successful families always …

Our family legacy is …

Our most important priority as a family is …

Someone who wants to be influential in our family must …

As stewards our family has a responsibility to ensure that …

Our family is blessed with success because … 

Exercise: Exploring Family Values