Dynamics of Conflicts in Family Firms: Towards a Non-Linear Approach to the Succession Process

Abstract

The succession process can be a traumatic event in the life cycle of a family firm and is usually characterised by an increased interest towards the firm of the successor accompanied by a progressive disengagement of the predecessor. Drawing on five longitudinal case studies of Tunisian family firms examined from 2016 to 2019, we investigated the sequential and dynamic nature of this process, focusing on the conflicts among family members involved in the process. The main findings suggest that professional and family-related conflicts can lead to excessive tensions between the involved parties, which can result in failure of the succession process. Moreover, specific contingency factors, such as tragic events, can positively or negatively trigger deviation from the succession process path.