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This study examines the corporate governance frameworks of family-owned enterprises in Botswana. Family enterprises constitute a fundamental component of the nation's private sector, accounting for over 70% of GDP and providing employment for approximately 60% of the labour force. Notwithstanding their economic significance, these firms encounter ongoing issues in governance, especially concerning leadership succession, board composition, and professionalisation. This study utilises agency theory, stewardship theory, and the resource-based view, employing a mixed-methods strategy that includes the distribution of 150 structured questionnaires across several sectors such as retail, agriculture, hospitality, and professional services. The results indicate that companies with formal governance frameworks, including independent professional boards, written succession plans, and family protocols, consistently excel in strategic decision-making, transparency, and long-term sustainability compared to their competitors. Nonetheless, obstacles to implementation persist, since numerous enterprises are impeded by cultural opposition to non-family leadership, insufficient understanding of governance mechanisms, and a tendency towards informal decision-making. The article finishes by providing pragmatic ideas for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development agencies to enhance resilience and competitiveness in this crucial industry.

This study aimed to suggest strategies for running sustainable family-owned businesses in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa. While family-owned businesses contribute significantly to employment and local economic development, their survival is often threatened by challenges such as poor financial management, family disputes, inadequate planning, and lack of government support. Using a qualitative exploratory design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten family-owned businesses operating in diverse sectors. Thematic Content Analysis revealed that strategies for sustainability include strengthening financial management systems, investing in skills development, formalising succession planning, embracing innovation and technology, and building strong customer relationships. The study concludes that long-term sustainability can be achieved when family-owned businesses integrate modern business practices with their cultural strengths. It recommends structured training, adoption of governance mechanisms such as family councils, and targeted government support tailored to rural enterprises.

This study explores the challenges that impact the sustainability of family-owned businesses in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative design was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with ten business owners and managers from diverse sectors, including transportation, construction, poultry farming, and retail. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used to interpret the data. Findings revealed that poor financial management, skills shortages, over-expansion, limited government support, and family conflicts are the most significant threats to business survival. These internal and external constraints erode financial stability and governance structures, resulting in low longevity rates. The study recommends financial literacy training, formal governance mechanisms, succession planning, and simplified government support systems tailored for rural enterprises. Strengthening these aspects can enhance both sustainability and economic development in rural areas, such as Thohoyandou.

This study explores the complex dynamics of succession planning and conflict in family businesses in South Africa, with the objective of developing a theoretical framework to guide future research and practical interventions. A qualitative methodology was employed, using an interpretive research paradigm to gain in-depth insights into the lived experiences of family businesses. The study draws on a comprehensive review of literature to identify key themes, including governance structures, generational dynamics, cultural influences, and the role of communication in succession processes. Findings reveal that succession in South African family businesses is often hindered by a lack of formal planning, entrenched familial expectations, and unresolved interpersonal tensions. Cultural values and patriarchal norms also emerged as significant influences on how succession is perceived and enacted. The study concludes that effective succession planning in South African family businesses requires a context-sensitive approach that balances tradition with professionalization. It recommends the adoption of structured governance mechanisms, open communication strategies, and succession training for both incumbent and successor generations. This research present theoretical framework that integrates socio-cultural, organizational, and individual dimensions of succession planning and conflict management in family businesses.  

The purpose of this study was to assess factors affecting succession planning in family-owned fish trading SMEs businesses in Mwanza city. The research utilized quantitative methodologies to evaluate the effect of individual, familial, and organizational factors on succession planning within family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mwanza city. Chi-square analyses revealed that leadership, delegation, the ability to disassociate from the business, and successor preferences significantly influence succession planning. Moreover, the interest and abilities of the successor plays a crucial role in the planning process. The study further found that family-level factors, including traditions, compensating family members, formal communication forums, and the desire to maintain family control, also significantly affect succession planning. Regression analyses indicated that individual factors such as leadership, delegation, and the abilities of potential successors positively influenced succession planning. At the family level, practices like compensating family members and establishing formal communication channels significantly contributed to succession planning, while traditional practices like favouring the eldest son as a successor did not have a substantial impact. Additionally, the study identified that the readiness of the successor, the presence of a clear and documented succession plan, effective board governance, a well-defined organizational structure, and the existence of a written strategic plan were key predictors of successful succession planning. The findings suggest that businesses with well-defined and specific succession plans, identified successors, and active development plans for the next generation are more likely to achieve success in shaping succession planning within family-owned fish trading SMEs, providing a solid foundation for successful ownership transitions. This research offers valuable insights for future research and policy development concerning SME succession planning and business sustainability.

This paper reviews recent corporate financial literature dealing with family business issues. It discusses research papers that explain the nature and type of agency problems in family firms. It provides empirical evidence of the association of family ownership with information asymmetry. It also portrays the influence of family firms over corporate disclosures. We have analyzed literature to explain the empirical association between family ownership, and so ownership control, and firm performances. This paper also attempts to find out the research gap based on reviewed papers and tries to give the future directions of research in this regard.

The aim of this study is to reveal causes and grounds which drive family businesses into internationalization process and divulge implemented strategies benefiting from the literature through a case study. In this context, “Saruhan Cooperation” which is a globally operating Turkish family business has been examined as a case study by means of primary and secondary resources. In the case study, besides presenting the current situation of Saruhan Coop., the reasons triggered internationalization process, works done for this purpose, goals of the firm, and implemented strategies in this milieu and circumstances have been tried to be defined by using a series of structured face-to-face interviews. Moreover, our findings display a process that a locally operating family business ends up in a situation to buy a firm which operates internationally under a global brand. Although it is conducted with one business; the study is important as being a pioneer analysis and contributes to the literature well; also, it is valuable because it provides a model for those who are planning to operate internationally. The research opens a door to further researches as well.

The family businesses constitute the base of global economies. They provide contributions to economy and sectors with their assets and activities. Their reaching to plan, program and objectives occur through the sharing of experience, knowledge and accumulation. Their adaptation to domestic and global markets is the characteristic separating the definition, family businesses from other businesses. In this study, the advantages and disadvantages of this situation, management forms, institutionalism concept and its stages and elements of institutionalism, institutionalism stages in family businesses, problems preventing institutionalism, institutionalism of family relations that family constitution, board of directors, family council, inheritance plan, emergency situation plan and conflict management are explained and effects of family individuals over institutionalism, the general characteristics of institutionalized family businesses are defined and a practice regarding the issue of “Institutionalism of Family Relations”, which was performed in a family business through observation, conversation and interview, which was founded in Istanbul in year 1989 and carrying activities in textile sector over shirt, short and pant manufacturing were given place.  Literature review regarding family business were performed in this study and the concepts and theoretical information related with the subject were explained and combining the theory and practice, knowledge accumulation and experience sharing through a practice performed through observation, conservation and interview made with the management of a family business were provided and they were explained in our study with an academic language.