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Abstract
Against a backdrop of accelerating digital transformation and growing demands for sustainable development, family-owned SMEs face major challenges during intergenerational succession processes. This article analyses the dual intergenerational transition – towards sustainability and digitalisation – of family-owned SMEs in Cameroon. It aims to understand how these businesses reconcile the principles of family continuity with the imperatives of organisational transformation. Adopting an inductive qualitative approach based on a multiple-case study, the research draws on twelve semi-structured interviews conducted with key stakeholders from eight family-owned SMEs. The results reveal that the dual transition is influenced by contextual factors such as family culture, wealth governance and the profile of the successor. Similarly, it is clear that formalised family governance and digital leadership are key drivers in ensuring a coherent and sustainable transition.
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