Problems caused by the second generation in family businesses and solution offers relating thereto: (A field study aiming at detecting the relevant problems based on the views of the first generation)

The present study aims to analyze the problems caused by the participation of the second generation in the family businesses in the cities of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman, and to present the solutions offered for these problems. Studies on the problems arising in family businesses reveal that the problems caused by the second generation may pose severe threats to the maintenance and sustainability of the businesses. The biggest disadvantage at this point is determining the member of the second generation who is to succeed to the management of the business after the first generation and planning his/her training. Furthermore, studies show that less than 1/3 of the family businesses successfully pass to the second generation only half of which can survive up to the third generation. For the analysis of the problems caused by the second generation, we reached a total of 1142 family businesses registered in Chambers of Industry and Commerce, and made one-on-one interviews with 315 of them, 251 of which were included in our study. The analysis aimed to find out the problems caused by the second generation when they participated in the management of the family businesses in the cities of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman, and in conclusion, come up with solution offers for these problems. Keywords: Family Businesses, Second Generation, Problems Caused by the Second Generation.