Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Succession Planning has emerged as a critical factor shaping organizational growth across organizations operating in and around Selected States in Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how succession planning relates to organizational growth has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Selected States in Nigeria, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of succession planning on organizational growth, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While succession planning is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on organizational growth within Selected States in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to succession planning are helping or hindering organizational growth — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Succession Planning on organizational growth in Selected States in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which succession planning influences organizational growth within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with succession planning in relation to organizational growth.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing succession planning in order to improve organizational growth.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of succession planning on organizational growth in Selected States in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does succession planning influence organizational growth within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with succession planning in relation to organizational growth?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize succession planning in order to improve organizational growth?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around organizational growth. For managers and practitioners within Selected States in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how succession planning can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on business administration by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Succession Planning and its relationship with organizational growth within the context of Selected States in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.