Generational change in Italian family-owned business

The study presented analyses the main aspects of generational change, considered by scholars as one of the most critical moments for the continuity of family businesses. Despite the topic’s extreme relevance, as of today literature is still particularly fragmented. For this reason, this paper focuses on providing a more holisticover view of this important phase, proposing a theoretical set of practices to properly manage it. This theoretical framework is then validated and deepened through an empirical analysis conducted on seven cases of family businesses. As a main result, it is highlighted that generational transition can represent for businessesa true opportunity to grow rather than am ere critical issue