Ambivalence as a Strategic Driver: A Longitudinal SWOT Analysis of Family Business Resilience (2015-2024)

Family businesses (hereinafter – FBs) occupy an important positi on in the Czech economy and play a key role in ensuring regional development sustainability. The aim of this study is to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportuniti es and threats (SWOT) of Czech family fi rms and to identi fy ambivalent factors that can simultaneously enhance business resilience while creati ng potenti al vulnerabiliti es. The empirical basis relies on data from the Resilient Family Business surveys conducted among owners and successors of family enterprises in 2022 and 2024, comprising more than 3,700 open-ended responses. The methodological approach combines quanti tati ve content analysis, comparati ve SWOT analysis, and correlati on and regression techniques to assess the dynamics of the identi fi ed factors and their interrelati onships. The fi ndings indicate a structural shi􀅌 from traditi onal value-based advantages (SEW, trust, cohesion) toward stronger market and technological orientati on. Specifi cally, the results show that key strengths of family fi rms have intensifi ed: SEW-related factors increased from 67 to 427 menti ons, quality from 57 to 135, and innovati on and digitalisati on from 29 to 95. At the same ti me, weaknesses have also become more pronounced, parti cularly the shortage of qualifi ed labour (rising from 52 to 160 menti ons), managerial limitati ons and low digital maturity. Correlati on analysis confi rms strong associati ons between innovati on and quality, between low digitalisati on and weak marketi ng, and between economic uncertainty and regulatory burdens. Overall, the study provides empirical insights into the evolving percepti ons of SWOT factors in Czech FBs and off ers broader conclusions on how strategic engagement with ambivalence can strengthen entrepreneurial fl exibility and resilience.