The role of filial piety in career interest alignment, identity alignment, and affective commitment: Evidence from Indonesia

Abstract

In Indonesia, where most business organizations are family-owned, culture influences family employees’ behavior. Filial piety, or honoring the seniors, is considered a significant cultural value that motivates the family employees to be committed to the business. This study aims to test the effect of filial piety on identity alignment, career interest alignment, and affective commitment. Quantitative analysis is conducted to test the hypotheses of this study using purposive sampling based on questionnaire survey responses from 270 junior family business employees. The study employs Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis with the SmartPLS software to test the hypotheses. The test result shows that: 1) filial piety has a positive effect on identity alignment and career interest alignment, 2) identity alignment has a positive effect on affective commitment, and 3) career interest alignment has a positive effect on affective commitment. The study illustrates how filial piety affects junior family employee behavior, an issue that has not been addressed before in Asian family business studies. Acknowledgment The publication of this study is supported by Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L) LPPM fund.

Keywords

• career
• commitment
• culture
• family employee
• filial piety
• identity