Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Strategies For Sustaining Small Retail Businesses, Eddie Dean Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners have major issues in sustaining their businesses. Small business owners who do not use successful strategies to sustain their businesses are destined to fail. Grounded by the systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore effective strategies for sustaining small retail businesses beyond 5 years. The participants comprised 6 small business owners who successfully sustained their business beyond 5 years in Memphis, Tennessee. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviewing company documents and analyzed using Yin's 5-step process. The 4 themes that emerged from this study were: be adaptive to external …

Parents’ Perceptions Of Financial Technology To Support Financial Socialization And Literacy Levels, Patricia M. Page

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current generation of emerging adults are ill-equipped to navigate the evolving financial landscape, which can further exacerbate socioeconomic inequality. Extant research rooted in Gudmunson and Danes’ family financial socialization theory and Brown et al.’s situated cognition theory, which served as the conceptual framework for this study, acknowledged the long-standing influence of parents and authentic learning opportunities on child(ren)’s financial literacy and well-being. This study’s research questions explored parents’ experience with, and perceptions of, a family-managed virtual bank and prepaid debit card service designed for children ages Pre-K through college. The basic qualitative approach and semistructured interviews provided context to …

Customer And Employee Social Media Comments/Feedback And Stock Purchasing Decisions Enhanced By Sentiment Analysis, Drew Mikel Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warns professional investors that sentiment analysis tools may lead to impulsive investment decision-making. This warning comes despite evidence showing that aided social sentiment investment decision tools can increase accurate investment decision-making by 18%. Using Fama's theory of efficient market hypothesis, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether customer Twitter comments and employee Glassdoor feedback sentiment predicted successful investing decisions measured by business stock prices. Two thousand records from 3 archival U.S. public NASDAQ 100 datasets from March 28, 2016, to June 15, 2016 (79 days) of 53 companies with …

Strategies Used By Nonprofit Social Service Business Leaders To Retain Employees, Veronica Lashal Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low employee retention among nonprofit social service organizations results in decreased productivity and performance. Business leaders who fail to implement employee retention strategies risk increased employee turnover resulting in the loss of economic constancy and organizational profitability. Grounded in Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies nonprofit social service business leaders used to increase employee retention. A purposeful sampling of 4 leaders from 4 nonprofit social service organizations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area who successfully used strategies to increase employee retention participated in this study. Data were collected from …

Coalition Sustainability After Federal Funding Is Expended: A Case Study, Shawnee Marie Seese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community coalition sustainability has been a focus of scholars as community coalitions deliver vital programs and services for communities in need. Despite the value coalitions bring to U.S. communities, they often become vulnerable after federal funding is expended. Researchers acknowledge the need to build understanding of coalition sustainability and have identified factors that contribute to the sustainability of programs, but studies on the topic remain quite limited. Federal funding requirements are more stringent than in previous years, requiring evidence of sustainability planning, which increases the urgency to identify those elements that ensure sustainability. The purpose of this study was to …

Financial Illiteracy Of Nigerian Immigrant Entrepreneurs In Houston, Adewole M. Omogunsoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial literacy is an essential determinant of entrepreneurial success as it helps entrepreneurs to access credit and make rational financial decisions. However, financial literacy remains low especially among immigrant communities, who form the bulk of the low-income earners in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the financial literacy of Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs living in Houston, Texas, in order to sustain growth in their business by successfully using the U.S credit system. The research question for the study examined the actions Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs in Houston need to take to be financially literate …

The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Profitability Of Small, Nonprofit, Private, Higher Education Institutions In Georgia, Walter V. Murray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small, nonprofit, private, higher education institutions (SNPHEIs) are facing economic challenges that threaten their existence. This threat represents a public policy problem because 28% of all higher education in America is delivered by SNPHEIs. The purpose of this study was to investigate any correlational relationships that may exist between the organizational culture (OC) in SNPHEIs and their financial sustainability. Based on the competing values framework, a causal relationship between OC and organizational profitability within the SNPHEI was posited. In this study, both descriptive and comparative research questions were used; they focused on the OC types identified in the competing values …

Successful Marketing Strategies For Small Business Sustainability, Jasmine Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses play a significant role in the health of the U.S. economy, but 50% of small businesses close before reaching 5 years of operation. Some small business owners do not utilize effective marketing strategies to guide them towards sustainability in business. Grounded in hybrid typology, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore marketing strategies small business owners use for sustainability. The participants comprised three small business owners located in the Midwest Region of the United States, with a business in operation for at least 5 years. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, public company documents, …

Reducing Voluntary Employee Turnover In Supermarkets, Elena Wynn Cubillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supermarkets in the United States are experiencing losses in profitability due to an increase in voluntary employee turnover. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies supermarket managers use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. Participants were 5 supermarket managers in the Southeast United States who successfully reduced voluntary employee turnover. Participants responded to 7 open-ended, semistructured interview questions. A review of company documents and peer-reviewed journals supplemented the data collection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data and 4 themes emerged: compensation, employee recognition, organizational culture, and empowerment. The …

Aviation Maintenance Technician Decision-Making, Dominic Hemingway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aircraft accidents caused by human decision-making errors cause property loss and fatalities on a global scale in the aviation industry. Aviation repair technician decision-making perceptions influence aviation safety. The purpose of transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of aviation repair technicians related to decision-making perceptions regarding aviation safety. The central research question and sub-question focused on the lived experiences of repair technicians’ decision-making perceptions. The naturalistic decision-making framework, decision theories, and decision-making models comprised the lens to assess the impact of aviation maintenance technician decision-making perceptions in aviation safety. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 12 …

Effective Strategies Small Business Leaders Use To Address Ransomware, William Jason Tuttle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business leaders face a wide range of cybersecurity threats. Ransomware is a specific cybersecurity threat that cybercriminals can use to deny small business leaders’ access to data in exchange for a ransom payment. Grounded in routine activity conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore effective strategies small business leaders use to address ransomware. Data were collected from 5 leaders of small businesses in the southeast region of the United States. Data sources included interviews and archival documents. Data were analyzed using Yin’s 5 step process. The analysis revealed 3 primary themes: ransomware strategy, …

Bidding Strategies For Winning Construction Bids In South Africa, Momoh Vandi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The failure of small business managers to understand various bidding strategies leads to losing construction bids. The lack of management skills, limited access to markets, weak customer relationships, lack of appropriate technology, and government bureaucracy are problems small business managers face when preparing to bid for construction contracts. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore bidding strategies small and medium enterprise business managers use to win construction bids. The participants comprised 5 business owners of small- and medium-sized construction enterprises in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conceptual framework was the theory of constraints. Data were collected using …

Successful Balanced Scorecard Implementation Strategies For A Manufacturing Organization, Timothy J. Zorek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Up to 90% of businesses fail to execute their business strategies. Still, the effective implementation of a performance measurement system like the balanced scorecard (BSC) often leads to the implement a more successful execution of a business strategy. The purpose of this qualitative single case study sought to explore the successful strategies used by business leaders to implement a BSC effectively. Change theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Participants consisted of 3 business leaders of a manufacturing organization in Southeast Wisconsin, who successfully implemented the balanced scorecard within their business. Data were collected from face-to-face, semistructured interviews, and …

Strategies For Retaining Life Insurance Sales Agents, Jose Pablo Pescador

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The total number of life insurance sales agents has decreased from 535,000 in 1990 to 323,700 in 2014, averaging a total of 8,829 life insurance sales agents leaving the life insurance industry annually. Effective retention strategies of life insurance sales agents may provide a sustainable workforce in the life insurance industry. Guided by Ambler and Barrow’s employer branding theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies branch managers used to retain life insurance sales agents. The 6 participants in the study implemented effective retention strategies to retain life insurance sales agents within 2 life insurance …

Modern Costing Strategies For Improved Profitability In Small- And Medium-Sized Businesses, Jennifer Kelly Demoras

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) accounting managers use little to no modern costing strategies which can negatively impact profitability. Advances in technology, innovations in product design, and increases in globalization mean SMEs could benefit from modernizing their internal costing systems. This study is important to SME accounting managers because of offering new information and practical methods that SMEs might use for improved profitability. Grounded in the contingency theory of management accounting, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the modern costing strategies SME accounting managers used to improve profitability. Seven SME owners, CFOs, and administrators who …

E-Business Training Strategies For Profitability In Small And Midsize Enterprises, Papa Faal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

E-business skills are an essential part of the global market, yet many small and mid-size enterprise leaders lack the necessary training to become competitive. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore e-business training strategies small and mid-size enterprise leaders use to increase profitability. The participants comprised 5 small and mid-size enterprise leaders in a metropolitan area in the Gambia who have increased profitability using e-business tools and training strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents. Thematic and content analysis were used to analyze the data. Three themes …

Working Capital Management Strategies To Increase Bank Profitability, Khalid Makki Said

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than 50% of business failures in the United States are because of business leaders’ inability to manage working capital. Some bank leaders lack strategies to improve working capital management. Grounded in the cash conversion cycle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies bank leaders used to improve working capital management. The participants consisted of 3 managers from 3 different U.S. banks in Kentucky, who successfully implemented working capital management strategies to increase bank profitability. The data collection process included semistructured interviews and company documents provided by the participants. Data were analyzed using …

Succession Planning Strategies For Retiring Employees In The Department Of Defense, Danielle Mccullough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2017, more than 18% of the workforce in the Department of Defense (DoD) was eligible to retire. Employee retirement continues to present a persistent shortage of DoD knowledge workers, especially in security protections. The purpose of this qualitative single case study within a DoD intelligence agency was to explore succession planning strategies that DoD managers use to ensure knowledge possessed by retirees was transitioned to incumbent knowledge workers. The conceptual frameworks for this study were the 7-pointed star model for succession planning and the 4 pillars of knowledge management. The population was DoD managers from STEM and cyber intelligence …

Corporate Trainers’ Intent To Adjust Training Programs For Fostering Employee Self-Efficacy, Peter Cronrath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To stay current on technology trends, trainers are tasked with providing cost-effective training to meet the needs of the organization. It is not known if to develop employee self-efficacy, organizational trainers should consider making changes to their programs in accordance with (a) generational needs of employees, (b) methodology of training, and (c) position levels of employees in an organization. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study was to determine whether there is a correlation between organizational training professionals’ intent to make changes to training programs and if self-efficacy development is considered in generationally different individuals at different position levels …

Strategies To Reduce Small Business Data Security Breaches, Sikini Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations affected by data security breaches may experience reputational damage and remediation costs. Understanding the data security strategies needed to protect small businesses is vital to safeguard company data and protect consumers’ personal information. Grounded in systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business owners use to reduce data security breaches. The participants were 4 small business owners located in the southern region of the United States: 2 franchise small business owners and 2 nonfranchise small business owners. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and organizational documents. Yin’s 5-step data analysis …

Probation And Parole Officers’ Experiences Addressing Criminogenic Needs Of Adult Felony Offenders, Maria L. Stephenson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Probation and parole officers (PPOs) deviate from evidence-based practices implemented to reduce recidivism among adult felony offenders. PPOs fail to adhere to risk-need assessment results during case management, but prior research has not established the reasons for this deviation. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of PPOs implementing the risk needs responsivity (RNR) model by addressing the criminogenic needs of adult felony offenders. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Lipsky’s street-level bureaucracy theory, Becker’s labeling theory, and Andrews and Bonta’s RNR theory. This study involved in-depth, individual, semistructured interviews with 6 participants. The data were …

Consumer Credit Card Debt And Immigrants: A Cross-Sectional Study Of U.K. Immigrants’ Financial Capability, Paul Wesley Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the ubiquitous nature and high level of consumer debt associated with certain demographics; however, research in the context of immigrants in the U.K. are limited. The problem is the lack of information about the association between credit card debt and immigrants, specifically on whether the income gap between U.K. immigrants and British citizens affects the level of consumer debt. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study is to examine whether there is an association between the income gap that exists between immigrants and British citizens and their respective levels of consumer debt, …

Information Systems Strategies For Small And Medium Size Enterprise Sustainability, Oluseyi Solomon Awotayo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium size business owners who do not use information systems effectively degrade business models, reduce customer value, and diminish the prospects for business stability, profitability, and growth. Grounded in the resource based view framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore the information systems strategies small business owners used to sustain their business beyond 5 years. A purposeful sample of 5 owners of 5 different small and medium sized businesses in the state of Texas participated in the study. Data were collected via semistructured, face-to-face interviews, company documents, and member checking. Data were analyzed using …

The Function Of Cultural Dimensions In For-Profit Higher Education Marketing, Yeşim Gül Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite allocating budgets to attract and grow worldwide student market share, increasing enrollments from targeted market international student pools remains a concern for private for-profit schools. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the country-specific and culture-specific marketing strategies that for-profit university business marketing leaders use to increase the enrollment of online Brazilian students. The first group with three participants was based in the United States and the second group, in Brazil, contained two participants. Cultural dimensions theory was the conceptual framework of this study. Data were collected in the form of interviews, website presence, social …

Achieving Profitability In Global Small Business Supply Chain Management, Cheryl A. Mccloud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain managers of small and medium-sized enterprises face cost inefficiencies in meeting human, physical, and technology capital requirements. Small and medium-sized enterprise supply chain managers who fail to implement cost-efficiency strategies risk jeopardizing profitability. Grounded in the chaos theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the successful strategies SME supply chain managers used to create cost efficiencies to remain profitable. Participants were 3 corporate supply chain managers of a small and medium-sized international enterprise located in central Florida who were successful at creating cost efficiencies to remain profitable. The data collection process included face-to-face …

Black Women Nonprofit Executives’ Use Of Sustainable Funding Strategies In Marginalized Communities, Asakuia Ayoka Wiles-Abel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of funding resources, inadequate staffing, poor capacity building, and difficulties in attracting individual donors are problems for small Black-led nonprofit organizations. Black women lead a majority of nonprofits in low socioeconomic and under resourced neighborhoods and have deep connections with and cultural awareness of community needs. However, little is known about how Black women leaders of nonprofits employ effective strategies to overcome funding and staff capacity challenges. The purpose of this study, which had resource dependency theory as its foundation, was to examine Black women nonprofit executives’ perceptions of obstacles in securing organizational funding and strategies for overcoming them. …

Strategies For Improving Accounting Controls For Donations To Nonprofit Organizations, Heartwill Nana Serwah Doughan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many nonprofit organizations (NPOs) lack strategies to develop and maintain adequate accounting controls, thereby decreasing donations and organizational sustainability. Leaders of NPOs rely on donations to operate programs effectively and remain sustainable using adequate accounting controls. Grounded in the strategic management theory, the purpose of this qualitative, single case study was to identify strategies that NPO leaders used to improve their accounting controls to maintain and demonstrate financial stability. The participants comprised 4 leaders of an NPO located in Kansas and New Hampshire in the United States who had developed and maintained accounting controls to facilitate an increase in donations …

Strategies For Identifying And Managing Public-Private Partnerships’ Critical Success Factors, Wayne Mingo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, some public-private partnerships (PPPs) have cost taxpayers millions of dollars due to poor project performance or management. Grounded in the critical success factors (CSFs) framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies for PPP leaders to use to identify and manage critical success factors (CSFs) to offset barriers to profitability. Understanding and using effective strategies for both profitability and project success are vital to PPP value as a procurement method and private investment opportunity. The participants comprised 5 former leaders of PPPs in the southeast region of the United States with …

Strategies For Reducing Voluntary Employee Turnover In Call Centers, Holly R. Schick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Call center business leaders who experience voluntary employee turnover are affected by

low productivity and high attrition. Call center business leaders are concerned about

voluntary employee turnover, as 35 of every 100 call center employees leave the

company within the first 6 months of their start date. The purpose of this qualitative

multiple case study was to explore strategies call center business leaders use to reduce

voluntary employee turnover among several call center managers located in Southeastern

New Mexico. The conceptual framework supporting this study was Burns’

transformational leadership theory. The participants included 3 call center business

leaders who successfully …

Motivational Strategies To Retain Corporate Real Estate Millennials, Dollymae Mellish Carnegie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective retention strategies can negatively impact business performance. Corporate real estate organization leaders who lack effective strategies to retain skilled millennial employees are at risk for business performance failure. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies corporate real estate organizations leaders used to retain skilled millennial employees. The participants comprised 5 corporate real estate organizational leaders in the New England region of the United States who successfully retained skilled millennial employees in their workforce. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and analyzed using Yin’s 5-step process and included coding and …