• Triljen and the University of Europe for Applied Sciences launch the “Culture-Code” study on the status quo of family businesses and call for participation
• Study “The Culture-Code” empirically examines how culture becomes a competitive factor in family businesses
• Participation as a contribution to the future model of SMEs in the DACH region

Berlin/Attendorn, September 8, 2025. The transformation consultancy for family businesses, triljen, and the private University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) are jointly launching the DACH-wide study “The Culture-Code” – and are actively inviting family businesses to participate. The aim is to demonstrate how corporate culture, as a soft success factor, influences key performance indicators such as productivity, growth, employee retention, and customer satisfaction.

Study as a contribution to the SME future model

“With this study, we aim to develop a scientifically sound tool that provides companies with concrete guidance for their strategic decisions. One thing is already clear: in times of skilled labor shortages, young talents choose employers not only based on salary but increasingly on values, purpose, and team spirit,” explains Prof. Dr. Ebbo Tücking, Professor of Business Administration and Marketing at UE.

Family businesses are traditionally value-driven, regionally rooted, and particularly challenged in times of skilled labor shortages. The study is based on the kununu Culture Compass to systematically capture cultural characteristics such as collaboration, innovation capacity, agility, and work-life balance, and to relate them to hard performance metrics.

The importance of this is clear to Frank Kaulen, co-initiator of the study and Senior Consultant Research and Strategy at triljen: “Whether it’s the shortage of skilled workers, digitalization, or generational change: family businesses face enormous challenges, and it will be crucial whether their corporate culture adapts – because it shapes collaboration, innovation, and adaptability. Family businesses are value-driven – but corporate culture is still too rarely seen as a strategic asset, and with this study, we are making this culture systematically measurable for the first time.”

Participation pays off

Participation takes about 10–15 minutes, is anonymous, GDPR-compliant, and aimed at decision-makers in SMEs – particularly in family businesses across the DACH region. In addition, participants benefit from:

• A complete results report before the official publication.
• An individual evaluation of their own corporate culture compared with the study results – including industry benchmarks and practical recommendations for action.

This enables companies to derive genuine competitive advantages.

Further information & participation link:
www.triljen.com/studie-erfolgsfaktor-unternehmenskultur

About triljen

triljen is a transformation consultancy for family businesses. The consultancy is part of the FETTE BEUTE GROUP, which is dedicated to advancing family businesses. The group also includes the branding agency DES WAHNSINNS FETTE BEUTE and the German Brand School, Germany’s first brand academy for family businesses. All three companies work under one roof with different methods and focuses towards the same goal: supporting ambitious family businesses in achieving qualitative growth, competitive advantage, and knowledge leadership.

About UE

The University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE), with campuses in Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, Iserlohn, and Dubai, is a state-recognized private university. It trains the digital pioneers of tomorrow by combining Tech, Data, Design, and Business, and focuses on imparting key skills for the job markets of the future – by breaking away from traditional academic models. UE has more than 7,800 students from over 140 nations.

UE has been institutionally accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities for the maximum period of ten years and is system-accredited by FIBAA. It has already been awarded the German Education Award twice. UE is part of GUS Germany GmbH (GGG), a network of educational institutions with more than 18,000 students at locations in Germany, Europe, and beyond. Currently, around 7,800 students from 143 nations are enrolled at UE.