Caminhos e descaminhos na construção da legtimidade do herdeiro-sucessor: o desafio da transição multigerancional

Abstract

This dissertations main proposal consists in understanding the process of construction of legitimacy of the heir-successor for him/herself, the succeeded and the family and organization members in terms of family-owned organizations. ln the field of organizational studies, the process of succession is widely referenced in the pertaining literature. However, p few studies discuss the process of construction of legitimacy of the heir·successor. The theoretical basis used was structured around the literature revision over the themes of family- owned organizations and succession, as well as the discussion over the construction of legitimacy of the heirsuccessor. In this sense, Berger and Luckmann (2004) contributions consolidated the reflections of the work themes. In regards to the methodological aspects, this study is based in a qualitative research strategy, adopting multicase study as the technique. The main element of data collection used was the semi structured interview, and, complementarily, the life trajectory and documental research. For the data analysis, content analysis was used. The research locus corresponds to two family owned companies from the state of Minas Gerais in the fields of pharmacies/distribution and concrete pre-fabricated items and industrialization of construction materials. The study`s corpus is constituted by the successors, succeeded, family members and organizations employees. The empirical research has made possible to evidentiate how the processes of socialization, succession and legitimacy construction have been conducted in the families and studies organizations. The analysis of succession processes was capable of demonstrating the dense interconnection between the socializations and the elements of legitimization that condition and orientate the succession. The discussion about the legitimization process has made evident, amongst other aspects, that when they are gradually Iegitimized, the successors conquered spaces and reconfigured the power relationships in the core of the organizations. Field research allows for the apprehension that the family·owncd company, supposedly an instance of secondary socialization, invades the spaces of primary socialization, mixing itself to the universe that is commonly restricted to the family. Summarizing, intcr-relationships between socialization, succession and legitimacy construction in both circular and incremental ways were identified, and we may state that these processes are the results of social construction, not happening under the perspective of an objective imposition. These are, in fact, result of constant interactions between the family and company members and other day to day actors.