Succession is crucial for the longevity of family businesses, yet our understanding of it remains limited. This work delves into the complexities of succession, examining how family dynamics and business interactions shape the process. It explores the roles of identity and family member identification during succession, offering a comprehensive perspective. The book's first major contribution is a systematic review of 18 years of theoretical and empirical literature, creating a transparent and logical framework for understanding succession. By analyzing both the business and family dimensions, it identifies various succession patterns and the factors that influence successful transitions. Beyond its academic contributions, the book serves as a practical guide for family businesses, helping them recognize and comprehend their unique succession patterns. The findings stem from a qualitative study in the German Wine Industry, involving 21 family-owned wineries, typically in their 11th generation. The research includes 37 semi-structured interviews with multiple family members, resulting in 695 pages of raw data, which were rigorously coded and analyzed using a grounded theory approach.
