Succession Experiences in Philippine Family Businesses

Western research suggests that family business owners must prepare for leadership succession in a systematic manner to ensure continuity. A review of the succession experiences of eight family businesses in the Southeast Asian country of the Philippines seems to indicate that the key to smooth succession for group-oriented families is not entirely dependent on succession planning. Rather, a family business's smooth succession depends on the succession process being consistent with family values. In fact, valuing the preservation of the family unit helps to avoid the ill effects that normally accompany the absence of succession planning.