Meeting the Challenges of Succession
in the Family Firm
by Thomas Davidow and Richard Narva
Succession from one generation to another does not happen by accident in a family-ownedbusiness.If you are interested in succession or the continuity of your business, you mustunderstand that planning for that continuity is the critical factor.We believe the failure toadequately address the topic of succession is the primary reason that only 30% of familybusinesses continue into the second generation and that only 10% more continue into the third.
Succession exists as an underlying issue in all family firms, playing a tremendously importantrole in the life of the family, as well as the life of the business.Yet owners and operators offamily enterprises rarely address succession, apparently because of its powerful psychologicalimplications, which can sometimes be overwhelming. More…