Most family-owned businesses in Nigeria fail to survive to the second generation, and even more fail to survive to the third generation. The problems with sustainability pose issues for individuals and communities but have not been adequately examined by researchers. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that family business owners use to implement succession planning required for business continuity. Succession planning theory was used as the conceptual framework. The participants for the study included leaders of 4 family businesses in Lagos, Nigeria, who have successfully implemented a succession planning strategy required for business continuity. The data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews. To enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the interpretations, methodological triangulation of the data sources and member checking were used. The process of data analysis included word frequency analysis, coding of related phrases, identification of patterns, and generation of themes around the codes. The results of the data analysis revealed five themes: identifying successor leaders, focusing on leadership development, reinforcing knowledge transfer, enhancing longevity of service, and emphasizing mentor and mentee processes. Providing potential successors with valuable skills in the short term becomes valuable for the family business in the long-term, study results show. The findings may raise owners' awareness about how to implement succession planning. The positive social change implications of business longevity include stable employment opportunities and investments in communities.

Family businesses comprise 80 to 90 percent of all businesses in North America (Shanker & Astrachan, 1996) and account for 60 percent of total U.S. employment (Hutcheson, 1999). Furthermore, 34 percent of the businesses listed on the S&P’s 500 Index are family businesses (Anderson & Reeb, 2003). There are three primary purposes of this dissertation. First, based on a review of the kinship, anthropology, and family business literatures, a definition of family for use in family business research is proposed. Second, specific patterns of family member involvement in a sample of 1,000 family businesses associated with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are identified in order to conduct further testing regarding the research questions framing this dissertation. Third, the specific patterns identified are utilized to determine if geographic location and/or industry type influence family member involvement in the family business. Furthermore, these patterns are utilized to determine if specific patterns of family member involvement influence intentions for transgenerational succession. Results indicate that the geographic location of the family business as well as the type of industry the family business is operating in do influence specific patterns of family member involvement. Furthermore, the results obtained from investigating the research questions in this dissertation indicate that specific patterns of family member involvement as well as the geographic location of the family business do influence intentions for transgenerational succession. This dissertation contributes to knowledge by proposing a definition of family for use in family business research. Furthermore, this dissertation is one of the first studies to specifically investigate patterns of family member involvement in the family business. Finally, this dissertation utilizes specific patterns of family member involvement to see if any differences in family member involvement arise based on geographic location or industry type as well as whether these specific patterns or the geographic location of the family business influence intentions for transgenerational succession. Recommendations for future theoretical and empirical research as well as practical implications for family business scholars, owners, and managers are also discussed.

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This thesis analyzes the inequality women face in the inheritance regime in Ghana. The existing legal framework which includes customary law is fraught with challenges that hinder women from claiming a fair share of their inheritance rights. Existing customary laws conflict with statutory law. Customary law contains aspects that contradict principles of equality espoused in statutory law. Additionally, the court relies on “judicial customary law” which contains old inheritance practices that do not reflect socio-economic changes. Finally, the judiciary in Ghana also uses the repugnancy doctrine in the interpretation and application of customary law. However, the repugnancy doctrine is outdated and constitutes a major hindrance for women in claiming a fair share of their inheritance rights. Drawing on postcolonial theory, intersectional feminism, law and society and sociology of law theories, this dissertation investigates and addresses the injustices associated with women’s rights of inheritance in Ghana. A major goal is to provide viable pathways that will ensure an equitable framework in the sharing of intestate property.

As coral reefs decline globally, there is an urgent need to understand recovery pathways and trajectories to both assess reef status and intervene with reef restoration efforts. However, the ecological role of various coral taxa on reef successional pathways is poorly understood. Building on terrestrial successional frameworks, it seems logical that weedy coral species may be placeholder species that quickly colonize cleared areas after a disturbance, but that are later replaced by more competitive, slower-growing species, leading to overall more biodiverse reefs. To test the competitive ability of a common pioneer species on Pacific reefs, Montipora aequituberculata, we tracked about 600 colonies across six equatorial islands through two time points (50 colonies per site per island), examining whether this species was more typically overgrown by other species over time, or whether M. aequituberculata was a more dominant competitor capable of overgrowing other reef taxa. Using photogrammetric data, we set out to answer questions about the fates of focal colonies and their place in the competitive hierarchy. Trajectories of area change of the focal colonies varied across islands, though they did not follow geographic patterns. Many of the changes in these post-disturbance reefs sometimes differed by site, even on the same island, and were not consistent within an archipelago. At an island scale, Howland (Phoenix Islands) and Flint (Line Islands) showed the greatest growth of focal colonies, while Enderbury (Phoenix) and Millennium (Line) lost the most coral coverage of focal colonies. Interactions between the focal colony and other coral species were more consistent across islands, with the most common interactions being with other colonies of M. aequituberculata as well as common species of Porites and Pocillopora. There was a consistent trend of focal colonies mostly being overgrown by other colonies of M. aequituberculata: this conspecific replacement suggests that this species is capable of self-perpetuating as a primary space holder in lieu of other coral interactions. In contrast, most other coral species were commonly overgrown by the focal M. aequituberculata, suggesting that M. aequituberculata is a strong competitor when vying for groundcover. Indeed, M. aequituberculata may be able to dominate reefs post-disturbance until stress-tolerant species take over. Surprisingly however, we did not see a consistent pattern of species interaction, meaning that there was not a single coral taxon that universally overgrew M. aequituberculata, suggesting that M. aequituberculata is a generalist competitor and is not a specialized facilitator of any one competitively dominant taxa. Islands with similar species interaction patterns are not the same islands with similar growth or loss patterns, suggesting that site-level ecological complexity overrules any general patterns of geography or species interactions. This study is among the first to provide detailed species interactions in a successional framework, paving the way for future studies to do the same in the hopes that we can predict the trajectory of reefs based on the community composition.

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No description available.

Riparian forests are integral components of the landscape. The inherent biogeochemical processes that occur in such forests provide numerous benefits to wildlife and society. Maintaining good water quality is a major benefit from riparian forests and therefore, the maintenance, creation, or restoration of riparian forests is indispensable. This study was designed to broaden current knowledge of the complex, interrelated biogeochemical processes and determine indices for riparian forest restoration based on the various carbon pools/fluxes that may represent restoration success. This study was implemented on the Savannah River Site, an Environmental Research Park, where several riparian forests are recovering from thermal disturbances. The streams in these forests were subjected to thermal discharges that increased flows and resulted in removal of soil and a decline in the amount of woody vegetation. Two of these riparian forests are at different ages post-disturbance and represent different stages of recovery, which provides an exceptional opportunity to study successional processes in riparian forests and enhance restoration efforts. Linear transects perpendicular to the main stream channels were established in 2 recovering riparian forests of different ages (two areas in Pen Branch ~ 8 years post-disturbance; Fourmile Branch ~ 12 years post disturbance) and an undisturbed (thermally) more mature riparian forest (Meyer's Branch ~ 60 years). Along these transects quantitative data were obtained on above and belowground carbon pools and fluxes. Carbon pools exhibited a close correlation with riparian forest development. Biomass and carbon pools increased with increasing riparian forest stand age. The importance of the herbaceous carbon pool declined relative to the total above ground biomass, and the root carbon pool increased with forest age/succession. In general, net primary production (NPP) in young riparian forests (~8-10 years) rapidly approached and even exceeded NPP of more mature riparian forests. Once the herbaceous stage of succession was surpassed, the litterfall component of NPP plays a greater role riparian forests. As a woody overstory became established (after ~ 8-10 years), annual litterfall rates as a function of NPP were independent of forest age. Establishment of woody species occurred ~8 to 10 years after thermal disturbance and litterfall amount in young riparian forests rapidly became comparable to mature riparian forests. Lateral litter movement from the riparian forest toward the stream was less than the amount of litter (carbon pool) deposited from upstream into the riparian forest during a flood event. Overall lateral litter movement supplied less energy to the stream system than vertical inputs. A decline in riparian forest floor biomass was observed with increasing riparian forest development. However, a difference in foliar forest floor percent carbon lended itself to a minimal increase in the forest floor carbon pool with increasing riparian forest age. Woody debris in riparian forests comprised a relatively small carbon pool compared to tree and soil carbon pools. The species composition of litter appeared to be more of an overriding factor influencing decomposition rates than forest age. The influence of litter quality was evident in the decomposition rates of the different litter composites used in this study. In all 4 sites the litter composite from the mature riparian forest decomposed significantly more than the litter composites from the younger riparian forests. The fairly rapid decomposition of red maple (Acer rubrum L.), which was one of the main components in the mature riparian forest litter composite, influenced the greater decomposition rate. The litter composites from the younger riparian forests were similar and both included more decomposition resistant litter types, specifically waxmyrtle (Myrica cerifera L.) and alder (Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd.). Decomposition rates did not differ between the individual successional stages. Riparian forests are intimately associated with their hydroperiod. During flood events the riparian forest receives inputs of organic matter and sediment, and the amount of deposition may decrease along a distance gradient from the main stream channel. The differential amount of inputs could affect forest productivity. However, in these riparian forests, a distance gradient effect was not observed. Trends in herbaceous biomass were evident along a microtopographic moisture gradient. The ridge and swale microtopography prevalent in the younger riparian forests counteracted a distance from the stream channel gradient effect across the riparian forest. This study provided knowledge of how carbon pools and fluxes change with riparian forest recovery from disturbance as well as through different seral stages. Implementing the findings of this study will enhance restoration evaluation efforts to ensure that these areas continue to provide the numerous benefits gleamed from them. / Ph. D.

<p dir="ltr">The practice of succession is utilized across many aspects of society, especially as it pertains to family farms. Historically, farm family businesses have been an integral part of the United States economy, and continuation of these family farms is not only a goal of theirs but needed for a thriving agricultural sector. This study seeks to discover how socioemotional wealth, having a successor interested in taking over the business, and perceived success in the farm family business impacts a farmer’s readiness to retire. The 2023 Farm Succession Survey was used to implement a logit regression and test hypothesized variables along with other business and owner demographic variables, in relation to incumbents feeling “rich and ready to go”. We find that the high amounts of socioemotional wealth experienced by respondents correlated with incumbents who were less ready to retire. Whereas, having a successor interested, perceiving the business as successful, and age increased the likelihood that respondents felt ready to retire. Socioemotional wealth brings a certain nuance to family farm business succession strategies, since it is a critical factor that influences both the positive and negative sides of succession planning decisions. Succession reflects the life cycles of farm households and businesses. Thus, understanding the emotions of the people involved in the succession practices of farm family businesses becomes more important as this may be a barrier to farmer retirement and subsequent land access for younger generations interested in farming as a career.</p>

This study investigates the personal experience of newly appointed chief executives in transitioning into the CEO role. Adopting an exploratory qualitative design, data was obtained from two semi-structured interviews with 19 newly appointed chief executives, for a total of 38 interviews. The main contribution of this thesis to the extant literature is to show the ways in which CEOs go through an identity construction process when transitioning into the role, which is characterized in two ways. First, there exists a bi-directionality of influence between the personal identity of the CEO and the organizational identity. Second, this process comprises strong identity demands (lack of specificity of the role and weak situation) and identity tensions (personal identity intrusion and identity transparency) that dispose new CEOs towards an unbalance that promotes individuality. This disequilibrium might hinder the integration of new chief executives into the organization, since the data suggests that new CEOs are responsible for fostering their own integration by connecting aspects of their personal identity with the identity and culture of the organization. The thesis offers a theoretical model of the CEO identity construction process and concludes with a series of propositions that address the ramifications of these findings to our understanding of CEO succession.