Perspectives and Challenges in Preparing Successors for Family Businesses

Abstract Succession is a major challenge for family businesses. In this sense, the general objective of the research was to describe and analyze elements involved in the preparation of successors. Chapecó, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, was chosen as the location for the study of succession processes in family businesses. A qualitative research perspective of a descriptive nature was adopted in order to perform a multiple case study. Research began with a literature review, followed by a field survey that collected data through interviews, archival research and systematic observation. The main results revealed that the preparation of successors is defined by certain factors: founder's influence, multi-generational socialization, demographics and learning.