Fathers and daughters in family business

Abstract

Family businesses are the dominant organizational form globally, and there is a growing trend for daughters to take over the successor role. Based on seven in-depth interviews with daughter successors, this study identifies three themes that contribute to a high quality predecessor–successor relationship in father–daughter successions. We find that early socialisation within the family business, better communication between father–daughter and a deeper understanding of the father’s shadow, helped daughters negotiate the succession process. We also found that our respondents used business as a way of bonding with the father. These findings indicate a new nuance of the family and business overlap in the family business, contributing to the growing body of family business research.