The Family Institute at Northwestern University, 618 Library Place, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
Fam Process. 2011 Jun;50(2):149-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2011.01352.x.
This qualitative study used a grounded theory methodology to analyze life-story interviews obtained from 10 family business owners regarding their experiences in their businesses with the goal of understanding the complexities of family business succession. The grounded theory that emerged from this study is best understood as a potential web of constraints that can bear on the succession process. Coding of these interviews revealed four key influences, which seem to have the potential to facilitate or constrain the family business owner's approach to succession. Influence 1, "The business within," captures intrapsychic dynamics of differentiation and control. Influence 2, "The marriage," addresses how traditional gender roles shape succession. Influence 3, "The adult children," examines the role of having a natural (accidental, organic, passively groomed) successor. Influence 4, "The vision of retirement," captures the impact of owners' notions of life post-succession. Family therapists frequently encounter family systems in which the family business is facing succession. Even if succession is not the presenting problem, and even if the business owner is in the indirect (rather than direct) system, this research reminds clinicians of the importance of the family's story about the family business. Therefore, clinical implications and recommendations are included.
这项定性研究采用扎根理论方法，对 10 位家族企业所有者的生活故事访谈进行了分析，旨在了解家族企业继承的复杂性。本研究中出现的扎根理论最好被理解为一个潜在的约束网络，它可能对继承过程产生影响。对这些访谈的编码揭示了四个关键影响因素，这些因素似乎有可能促进或限制家族企业所有者对继承的态度。影响因素 1：“企业内部”，捕捉了心理分化和控制的内在动力。影响因素 2：“婚姻”，探讨了传统性别角色如何影响继承。影响因素 3：“成年子女”，考察了拥有自然（偶然、有机、被动培养）继任者的角色。影响因素 4：“退休愿景”，捕捉了所有者对继承后生活的看法的影响。家庭治疗师经常遇到面临继承问题的家族系统。即使继承不是当前的问题，即使企业所有者处于间接（而非直接）系统中，这项研究也提醒临床医生关注家族关于家族企业的故事的重要性。因此，包括了临床意义和建议。
