ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IN A FAMILY BUSINESS: A PERSPECTIVE FROM GENERATIONAL DIVERSITY

Abstract

Generational diversity within organizations brings forth distinct customs that influence organizational culture and team interactions. In the context of a family business, companies often exhibit a more traditional and hierarchical structure, where the interaction among different generations can present both challenges and opportunities. Addressing this issue, the objective of this study is to analyze the perceptions of generational diversity regarding the organizational culture of a family business. The present research was designed as a qualitative exploratory study. The data collection instrument employed interviews with two representatives from each generation within a family business, Conexão Alimentos, which was the focal company for this investigation. The interview questions were designed to identify elements that comprise the company’s organizational culture. The findings revealed that, according to the perceptions of the different generations present in the company, management is family-oriented, and the culture was identified as conservative, with its values and traditions perpetuated over its 33 years of operation in the market. Additionally, this study contributes to the broader discussion and understanding of how organizational culture is directly influenced by generational diversity.