How important is a strategic succession plan in an organisation?

McKenna, Nicola (2017) How important is a strategic succession plan in an organisation? Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This dissertation set out to explore the importance of strategic succession plans in organisations in Ireland. In order to do so a qualitative phenomenological research design was undertaken this involved interviewing two senior management figures from two Irish companies. The first was a diary company which was a subsidiary of a UK owned group while the second was a family owned law firm. The interviews were undertaken in June of this year in order to ascertain the importance of strategic succession plans within these companies. Additionally a review of literature was also undertaken in order to identify the evidence base available concerning the prevalence of succession planning, its importance internationally, the benefits accrued to organisations in planning for successors, the challenges faced and best means of improving succession planning within organisations. The finding of the primary research was situated within the existing evidence base. The interviews articulated a divide in Irish companies concerning the importance of succession planning with the first company engaging in strategic succession planning and the second company not engaging in any formal planning. This is consistent with evidence from PwC (2016) which suggests that only slight more than half of Irish family owned companies engage in any succession planning. The findings noted a difference between the perceived value of succession planning and its actual practice within Irish organisations and this too is reflected in international research. Differences were also identified between family owned businesses and larger organisations and MNEs. Recommendations are provided in order to assist in both future research and improved evidence based practice within Irish companies operating across industries.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Strategic Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Talent Management
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	13 Nov 2017 14:38
Last Modified:	13 Nov 2017 14:38
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/2802

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