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MATERIALS 51
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with the Slovak legislative framework, which considers a business characteristics or on broader forest-sector dynamics,
business to be a family business if members of the same without explicitly linking these perspectives. Moreover, empirical
family are involved in ownership, management, or benefit from evidence from Central and Eastern European countries, including
the business under defined conditions. Slovakia, is still limited.
Their management is frequently influenced not only by economic At the same time, only limited attention has been given to
performance but also by long-term continuity, preservation of the role of family businesses in forest-based value chains. This

the business for future generations, and responsibility toward is important, especially in countries where small and medium-
employees and local communities. sized enterprises form a large part of the wood-processing
Such characteristics may affect how family businesses and furniture industry.
respond to external pressures, how they perceive their market Studying these businesses can help explain how company-
environment, and how they formulate their development strategies. level priorities are reflected in wider sustainability outcomes
Businesses operating in the wood-processing sector face in the forest-based sector, especially in relation to resource
several external determinants of the microeconomic environment, use, market behaviour, environmental responsibility, and long-
including supplier relations, competition, access to finance, term continuity.
technological development, and regulatory requirements.

The perception of these determinants may differ depending Aim Of The Research
on firm size, available resources, and internal governance The main objective of this paper is to analyse the perception
structure. Understanding these differences is important because of external determinants and the role of non-economic goals
they influence strategic decisions, investment behaviour, and in family businesses of the wood-processing and furniture
the ability of businesses to ensure sustainable development. industry and, based on the results, to propose a framework
In addition to economic objectives, family businesses are for a sustainable development strategy for these businesses.
frequently characterised by the pursuit of non-economic goals. The contribution of this paper can be summarised in three

These include long-term stability of income, sustainability of main aspects.
production, preservation of the company for future generations, First, it provides empirical evidence on how family businesses
and the building of a family legacy. perceive external determinants of the microeconomic environment,
Such goals may shape managerial decisions, influence contributing to limited research in the context of Central and
risk-taking, and determine how businesses approach innovation, Eastern Europe.
cooperation, and resource use. For businesses in the forest-
based sector, these priorities may also indirectly influence
the use of wood resources and the sustainability orientation abelproflooring.com
of the industry.

Despite the growing body of literature on family businesses
and sustainability, there remains a research gap in understanding
how family businesses in the wood-processing and furniture
industry perceive external determinants of their business
environment and how non-economic goals are integrated into
their strategic decision-making.
Existing studies often focus either on general family