THE Narratives of Business Successors in Region XI on Their Entrepreneurial Journey: A Multiple Case STUDY

Abstract

The goal of this study was to explore the entrepreneurial journeys of business successors in Region XI who inherited and now manage their family-owned enterprises. This qualitative multiple case study involved five successors from diverse industries—education, sack trading, computer repair, food service, and junkshop operations—selected through maximum variation sampling. I employed thematic analysis and cross-case evaluation of the transcribed responses from in-depth interviews, categorizing and coding them to identify essential themes. Six major themes emerged relative to their entrepreneurial journey: organizational acceptance and identity, experiential learning, technology adoption, operational innovativeness, organizational challenges, and financial difficulties. To manage these challenges, three essential coping themes arose: building trust and openness, support and adaptive learning, and strategic financial management. All cases revealed a strong sense of stewardship toward preserving legacy while driving operational innovation and strategic growth, underscoring the need for structured succession frameworks in the Philippine regional ecosystem.