Intergenerational transitions in family enterprise: Factors influencing offspring intentions to seek employment in the family business

Among the most important factors that can affect the survival of family firms are the attitudes of the owning-families when it comes to dealing with issues of intergenerational transitions. This study has investigated those attitudes from the perspective of the offspring of business owners. Specifically, the author has explored the reasons for which 18-28 year old university students would join or not join their parents' firms. These reasons were grouped into four factors, namely the family, business, personal and market factors. The author has also explored the aspirations of these offspring in terms of the family business. She found that most offspring in the sample were less than 50 percent likely to join the family business. But, most of those who were likely to join aspired to take over the business. Further, the personal factor seems to affect both intentions to join and intentions not to join; the family factor seems to affect intentions not to join; and the business and market factors seem to affect intentions to join.; The study's results can provide families in business, their consultants and educators with a greater understanding of the reasons behind offspring intentions to join or not join the family business. Understanding the reasons behind such intentions can help these groups evaluate whether young adults should join the family business. In turn, families in business and their consultants can create clear employment, management development and succession criteria for the family business, ensuring its survival and growth. Finally, given the study's results, family practitioners and educators also can help young admIts whose parents own a business choose their career and deal with family dynamics.