A new approach to managing a successful generational shift: A case study of Illy Caffè

Abstract

It is a matter of fact that the family businesses share common characteristics and face common problems, among which the generational shift is widely recognized to be the most relevant. In the last years, there has been a growing interest in the study of family firms but a little attention still has been paid to succession planning, and only a few studies tried to identify and assess which factors have a positive influence on a successful generational shift. This paper aims to identify, using a qualitative method applied to an Italian case study (Illy Caffè), which key factors can manage in a successful way the generation transition.