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Ownership Style in Family Business

In family businesses, even when family owners share similar values, a strong sense of identity, and a common history, they are not all the same. Ownership behaviour is shaped by the underlying intentions of owners, which reflect their values, priorities, and relationship with the business. These intentions influence not only how owners engage with the business but also how they approach decision-making.

To better understand how ownership styles impact ownership behaviours, we develop a model that highlights two primary drivers of their orientations toward intentions: Group-oriented behaviour and Wealth-oriented behaviour.

1. Group-oriented Behaviour

Group-oriented behaviour describes the extent to which family owners strive to cultivate a cohesive group aligned with shared goals, values, and expectations. This orientation can be considered on a continuum with two extremes:

2. Wealth-oriented Behaviour

Wealth-oriented behaviour describes the extent to which family owners prioritize the accumulation, preservation, and expansion of family wealth. It reflects their approach to financial growth, investment strategies, and long-term economic sustainability. This orientation can be considered on a continuum with two extremes:

The combination between the two primary orientations results in four distinct ownership styles, each reflecting a different balance between group commitment and wealth priorities.

Click on the titles to learn more about each of the four ownership styles:

© 2025 Family in Business

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Video Explanation

© 2025 Family in Business