摘要：Objective: This study seeks to determine the contributory factors to successful succession and post-succession performance.And the role of these factors in the post-succession financial and non-financial performance of family-owned SMEs in South Eastern Nigeria.Research Design & Methods: The adopted quantitative methodology is interview.In each of the purposively selected 25 family-owned SMEs,the incumbent,a sibling of the incumbent and a top level manager were interviewed.In all,75 respondents were interviewed.The transcribed interviews were subjected to thematic content analysis.Findings: The contributory factors to successful succession are the characteristics of succession planning,the incumbent,the potential successor,and the family-owned SME.The factors that contribute to the post-succession performance are the culture of making succession planning a continuous process,and the characteristics of the incumbent and the family-owned SME.These factors ensure that children of the incumbent in the SME become more active so as to be selected as potential successors.Contribution & Value Added: The study identified the contributory factors to successful succession and post-succession performance of the family-owned SMEs.To achieve successful succession and post-succession performance,the incumbents should inculcate the characteristics of these factors into their potential successors.Also,these characteristics should be made part of the culture of the family-owned SMEs.
