The impact of family-external business succession on digitalization: exploring management buy-ins

Authors

Alexander Pöschl, Int. University of Applied Sciences Bad HonnefFollow
Jörg Freiling, University of BremenFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Digitalization in small- and medium-sized (SME) family firms and processes of family-external business succession within these firms are under-researched areas. As SME and their future viability are important for many economies around the world, we aim to study the effects of succession processes on those companies’ digitalization activities. Utilizing a unique data set comprising of around 340 pages of transcribed interviews within a multiple case study involving four family firms in the DACH region of Europe, we perform exploratory research of this matter. Our findings indicate that incumbent and new owner-managers focus on efficiency-related digitalization activities during succession processes. More long-term issues such as changes to business models or the exploitation of external opportunities through digitalization are underrated and postponed. Our findings contribute to both digitalization and family firm literature and we provide suggestions for future research in this regard.

Recommended Citation

Pöschl, Alexander and Freiling, Jörg (2020) "The impact of family-external business succession on digitalization: exploring management buy-ins," International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management: Vol. 8: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/ijispm/vol8/iss2/3