An abductive exploration of sustainability implementation intent among family business successors: Extending the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

This study explores factors driving family business successors’ intent to implement sustainable practices. Using an abductive approach with 15 second-generation successors, we identified eight primary factors influencing sustainability implementation intent: environment, future orientation, business improvement, family relations, employees, customers, values and mindset, and community development. Three moderating variables were also found: personal resistance, external factors, and financial expense. Our findings contribute to family business and sustainability literature by proposing a novel theoretical framework capturing the complex interplay of factors shaping successors’ sustainability intentions. This research offers insights for promoting sustainability in family firms and enhancing their long-term resilience.

Keywords

• Abductive methodology
• Family business succession
• Socioemotional wealth
• Sustainability implementation intent
• Theory of planned behavior
• Transgenerational sustainability