Influence of Socioemotional Wealth on Financial Performance of Family-Owned Food Processing Firms in Tanzania.

Lubawa, Galinoma (2025) Influence of Socioemotional Wealth on Financial Performance of Family-Owned Food Processing Firms in Tanzania. Doctoral thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study examines how the family firm culture influences socioemotional wealth dimensions and how these dimensions, in turn, influence the financial performance of Mainland Tanzanian family-owned food processing firms. A quantitative explanatory research design was employed, using structured questionnaires and a simple random sampling technique to collect data from 267 family-owned food processing firms in Arusha, Mbeya, Morogoro, and Dar es Salaam. This study tested the hypothesised relationships using Generalised Structural Equation Modelling in STATA version 17. The results reveal that family firm culture significantly shapes all three socioemotional wealth dimensions (family continuity, family prominence, and family enrichment), which, in turn, positively influence the firm's financial performance. The study confirms that socioemotional wealth, while rooted in emotional and firm-level cultural values, also directly contributes to firm performance. These findings extend the application of SEW theory within the Mainland Tanzanian family firm context and provide context-specific guidance for strengthening governance structures in family-owned firms. The study further supports the development of culturally sensitive family business policies to enhance continuity and intergenerational wealth transfer. It recommends that future research explore the relationship between family firm culture, SEW, and financial performance in other family business sectors in Mainland Tanzania and employ qualitative approaches to deepen understanding of the emotional and cultural dynamics of family-owned firms. Keywords: Socioemotional Wealth, Family Firm Culture, Financial Performance, Family-Owned Firms, Food Processing Firms

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects: 300 Social Sciences > 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology
Divisions: Faculty of Business Management > Department of Accounting and Finance
Depositing User: Mr Habibu Kazimzuri
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2026 15:42
Last Modified: 15 Jan 2026 15:42
URI: http://repository.out.ac.tz/id/eprint/4846

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