The Succession Planning of Family-Own Merchandising Business in Davao De Oro: A Multiple Case Study

Abstract

This qualitative multiple case study aimed to explore strategies that managers/owners of family-owned businesses used to prepare future generations to assume managerial roles in the business. They were chosen through maximum variation sampling. The experiences and coping strategies of the five cases were examined using in-depth interviews. Triangulations of the gathered data was done in each case by interviewing their family members and friends and examination of historical documents. It was analyzed using thematic analysis resulting to five emergent themes on merchandizing business as regards succession planning: business continuity, hands-on training, formal education and coaching, motivational leadership, and job description formulation. The emergent themes for coping mechanism included the following: learning by doing, transparent selection process, and crisis management strategy. The five cases were not generally similar as there were only two cases who have similar declaration on their experiences on merchandizing business as regards to succession planning. As regards their coping strategies, one of the five cases adopted some approaches different from the rest of the cases.