development both in general terms and focusing on family firms. Then, we deal with
seven cases of succession in family firms in the automobile distribution sector on the
island of Gran Canaria, Spain (see Appendix A for some data about the Canary
Islands). These seven succession processes have been described as completely
successful, partially successful or failures, according both to objective (the evolution
of the business) and to subjective (the effects on family relationships and the
satisfaction of the parties involved) criteria. The comparative cross-analysis of the
seven cases leads us to certain conclusions and implications that are discussed later.
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