Clearing the Hurdles for Succession. Female Successors in Family Businesses

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Problem Definition and Research Question
• Aims and Structure
• Methodology
• Research Method
• Data Collection Method
• Definitions
• Family Business
• Succession
• Literature Review
• Succession in Family Businesses
• The Stages of Succession
• The Predecessor and Successor
• Women in Family Businesses
• The Role of Women
• Women as Successors
• Empirical Approach
• Data Collection
• Sampling
• Access to the Field
• Data Gathering
• Willingness to Participate
• Analysis Procedure
• Results
• Emotional Connection between the Family and the Business
• Succession as a Long-Term Process
• Transferring Control and Power to the Next Generation
• Personal Challenges
• Successors Need to Find Their Way
• Empathy and Communication
• External Consultants and Workshops
• Discussion
• Unplanned Succession versus Planned Succession
• Biases towards Female Successors
• Conclusion
• Critical Reflection and Future Outlook

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This master thesis aims to provide a guideline for potential female successors in family businesses, focusing on the factors that influence successful succession. The study explores the challenges and opportunities that women face in taking over family businesses. It investigates the dynamics within the family, the process of succession, and the need for preparation and planning. The research seeks to identify best practices and strategies for female successors to navigate the complexities of succession effectively.

• The importance of succession planning in family businesses
• The role of women in family businesses, particularly as successors
• The challenges faced by female successors in family businesses
• The impact of emotional attachment and family dynamics on succession
• The importance of preparation, planning, and communication in the succession process

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction sets the stage for the research by defining the problem and research question, outlining the aims and structure of the thesis, and explaining the chosen methodology. It also clarifies definitions related to family businesses and succession. The literature review delves into the existing knowledge on succession in family businesses, exploring the stages of succession, the role of predecessors and successors, and the specific challenges faced by women in this context. It examines the role of women in family businesses and the increasing presence of women as successors. The empirical approach section details the research methodology employed, including data collection techniques, sampling strategies, access to the field, data gathering methods, participant recruitment, and analysis procedures. The results chapter presents the findings derived from the qualitative research, focusing on key themes such as the emotional connection between family and business, succession as a process, challenges faced by successors, and the importance of communication and empathy. It highlights the role of external consultants and workshops in facilitating successful succession. The discussion chapter analyzes the findings, comparing planned and unplanned succession processes and examining potential biases against female successors.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on the key themes of succession, family businesses, and female successors. It explores the challenges and opportunities related to the transfer of ownership and leadership in family-owned businesses, specifically addressing the unique considerations for women taking on these roles. The research centers on the dynamics within family businesses, the process of succession, and the need for preparation and planning, incorporating insights from empirical research on the experiences of female successors.