Business Commons^™

Internal Business Control Systems In Small Puerto Rican Retail Businesses, Belma A. Borras

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses' vulnerability to financial losses brought about by employee theft is higher than for larger organizations. Small business owners are concerned about occupational fraud, as the annual average loss from fraud for small business owners in the United States was $150,000 per incident. Grounded in the fraud triangle theory and COSO Internal Control Integrated Framework, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the degree of segregation of duties, attitude toward internal controls, and the internal control system in small gas and convenience stores in Puerto Rico. Data were collected from 129 small business …

Knowledge Management, Innovations Systems, And Firm Performance, Henry Dion Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium sized-enterprise managers are unable to effectively manage employees’ knowledgeability and innovation systems successfully, which results in negative firm performance. Managers who do not consider employee knowledge management and the benefits related to innovation systems experience financial hardships within the organization. Grounded in the unified model of dynamic organizational knowledge creation theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between knowledge management, innovation systems, and firm performance. Data were collected using SurveyMonkey to gather online survey responses from 80 small and medium-sized enterprise managers in California. The results of the standard multiple linear …

Small Business Owners’ Strategies To Mitigate Employee Theft, Aurora Jacquese Trigg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies and a lack of internal controls to address employee theft can negatively impact small businesses. For most small business owners impacted by employee theft, the loss of resources could be detrimental, and in some cases, force the business closure. Grounded in Cressey’s fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies successful small business owners use to deter employee theft behaviors. The participants comprised 8 small business owners in southeast Florida who successfully used strategic internal controls to deter employee theft and enhance employee trust in the workplace. Data were collected from …

Communication Strategies Used To Improve Employee Performance In A Diverse Workforce, Dr. Sharine Denise Daniel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective communication strategies can negatively affect employee performance in a diverse workforce, which may hinder business growth. Top-level managers in the telecommunication sector who struggle to improve employee performance are at high risk of their businesses failing. Grounded in organizational information theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the communication strategies top-level managers in the communication sector use to improve employee performance in a diverse workforce. The participants were 5 top-level managers in 2 telecommunication companies in St. Maarten, who effectively used communication strategies to improve employee performance in a diverse workforce. Sources for data …

A Practitioner's Approach To Implementing Community Bank Internal Controls, Paul A. Dubrey Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some community bank compliance professionals lack strategies to comply with the 2013 Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) internal control framework statement, so they have been slow to adapt to the new COSO framework. However, they will be under increased regulatory pressure to do so. Grounded in Cressey's fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies community bank compliance professionals use to comply with the revised COSO internal control framework. Four compliance professionals at a community bank in the Boston, Massachusetts area who have successfully implemented strategies for internal control …

Small Nonprofit Fraud: Risk Mitigation Strategies, Anne M. Marchetti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fraud is a significant worldwide issue for organizations of every size and industry. Small nonprofit organizations are particularly vulnerable to financial and reputational loss due to a fraud incident, which can be devastating. Grounded in the Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commission framework, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore fraud risk mitigation strategies employed by management in a small nonprofit organization in Florida. Three managers in a small nonprofit organization in Florida, participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews to share their fraud risk mitigation strategies. The data collection process also included inspection of business …

Employee Retention Strategies Within Information Technology Small Businesses, Felicia Tetee Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe retention of high talent employees is vital to the success of any organization. Organization leaders who lack effective strategies to retain high talent employees are at risk for business performance failure. A lack of managerial strategies to motivate employees and a lack of understanding of employees' needs lead to increased employee turnover rate in organizations. Grounded in Herzberg's two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies information technology (IT) small business leaders use to retain high talent employees. Data were collected from phone semistructured interviews and review of the organizations' employee handbook, policies, …

Strategies Business Leaders Use To Prevent Employee Financial Fraud In Their Nonprofit Organizations, Sylvia A. Lawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of nonprofit organizations experience financial losses when their employees engage in financial fraud. Grounded in Cressey’s fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to explore strategies leaders of nonprofit organizations use to prevent losses from employee financial fraud. The participants comprised 3 leaders of nonprofit organizations located in South Carolina with successful experience preventing employee financial fraud losses. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and organizational documents, such as company policies and financial statements. Yin’s 5-step analysis process was used to analyze the data with 2 themes emerging: policies created helped leaders prevent losses from …

Managing Brand Value For Increased Patronage, Victor Tiwalola Olufemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology service providers (ITSPs) with low customer patronage may not remain competitive and could fail. Business leaders of ITSPs need to implement successful brand marketing strategies to gain consumers' confidence and increase patronage for their organizations' long-term sustainability. Grounded in the brand equity model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore brand marketing strategies ITSPs implement to increase patronage. The participants included nine business leaders from three ITSPs in Lagos, Nigeria, who successfully implemented brand marketing strategies to increase patronage. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, reflective notes, and review of public documents obtained from …

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 …

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 …

Strategies To Sustain Funding In The Nonprofit Sector, Mark Sami

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofits provide much needed services to communities, especially to the poor and

vulnerable population, but the majority are operating in an environment of uncertainty

because of scarcity of resources. It is imperative that nonprofit managers implement

strategies to ensure the sustainability of their organizations. Grounded in the general

systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore

strategies that nonprofit managers use to sustain funding in the nonprofit sector. The

study participants were 3 nonprofit managers, including 2 from the Caribbean, and 1

from the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and a review …

Reducing The Frequency And Effects Of Fraudulent Activities In Community Action Agencies, Marvin L J Blye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, nonprofit organization leaders estimate that $40 billion of revenue is lost every year because of financial scandals and fraudulent activities. Fraud negatively affects organizational functioning, service delivery, and board governance. Nonprofit leaders who fail to prevent fraud increase the chance of their organization’s failure. Grounded in Cressey’s fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies nonprofit community action agency (CAA) executive leaders use to reduce fraudulent financial activities. The participants comprised 5 executive CAA nonprofit leaders located in Maryland who effectively used strategies to reduce fraudulent financial behaviors in …

Management Accounting Systems For Small Business's Competitive Advantage, Renato (Denver) Alcazar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSmall businesses providing ancillary services to the motion picture industry fail at alarming rates due to leadership's lack of strategies for service diversification and business expansion. Grounded in the contingency theory of management accounting, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore management accounting systems (MAS) strategies leaders of ancillary service providers use for business diversification. The data collection included face-to-face semistructured interviews with 10 small business owners who successfully used MAS strategies for business diversification in California. The data analysis entailed using keyword frequency comparisons and coding techniques that facilitated the verification and triangulation of key …

Strategies Small Business Owners Use To Access Working Capital To Fund Operations, Michael Patrick Belleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small business owners encounter a lack of access to traditional bank funding that limits the owner’s ability to meet working capital shortages to sustain operations. Grounded in the resource-based view, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that small, home health care agency owners use to access working capital lending sources to finance their operations. The participants comprised 3 owners of small home health agencies in Wayne County, Macomb County, and St. Clair County, Michigan, who developed and implemented successful strategies to obtain working capital. Data were collected through semistructured interviews using open-ended questions, …

Strategies To Mitigate The Effects Of Identity Theft In The Hospitality Industry, Patricia Lee Jirsa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders in the U.S. hospitality industry experience significant losses in profitability, increased mitigation cost, and reduced revenues because of business and consumer identity theft. Grounded in the fraud triangle theory and the fraud diamond theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies leaders in the hospitality industry use to mitigate identity theft. A purposeful sample of 5 leaders of 5 different hospitality businesses in Montana participated in the study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, member checking, and a review of company documents. During data analysis using Yin’s 5-step process, 3 key themes emerged: a new …

Financial Management Strategies Used By Microbusiness Leaders, Dorothy M. David

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized microbusinesses accounted for the majority of net new jobs in the United States between 2000 and 2018. Yet a high percent of microbusinesses have exited the market due to business failure. The applicability of the findings from this study may positively influence small business owners seeking strategies that enable small business success. Grounded in entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore financial management strategies microbusiness leaders use to sustain their business success beyond 5 years. The participants comprised 3 small business owners in Virginia with sustained businesses beyond 5 years. Data were …

Relationship Between Csr Reporting, Csr Indices, And Financial Performance Of Hardware And Software Organizations, Cesar Castellanos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational leaders around the world spend millions of dollars on ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and CSR reporting strategies. Understanding the relationship between CSR reporting, CSR indices (CSRi), and financial performance is necessary to minimize unnecessary expenditures among organizational leaders. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study, grounded in Frederick’s CSR theory and Freeman’s stakeholder theory, was to examine the relationship between CSR reporting, CSRi, and financial performance of hardware and software organizations. Data were collected from the Security Exchange Commission and the official websites of 25 hardware and software organizations that were part of Fortune 500 between the …

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 …

Reducing The Frequency And Effects Of Fraudulent Activities In Community Action Agencies, Marvin L J Blye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, nonprofit organization leaders estimate that $40 billion of revenue is lost every year because of financial scandals and fraudulent activities. Fraud negatively affects organizational functioning, service delivery, and board governance. Nonprofit leaders who fail to prevent fraud increase the chance of their organization's failure. Grounded in Cressey's fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies nonprofit community action agency (CAA) executive leaders use to reduce fraudulent financial activities. The participants comprised 5 executive CAA nonprofit leaders located in Maryland who effectively used strategies to reduce fraudulent financial behaviors in …

Strategies For Increasing Revenues For Sun Belt National Hockey League Teams, Dewey Gantz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to increase revenues negatively impacts the sustainability and viability of businesses on a long-term basis. Some organizational leaders of the United States Sun Belt National Hockey League (NHL) teams do not possess the skills or experiences to take advantage of the opportunities developed from successful business applications to increase revenues. Grounded in Porter's 5 forces model and Porter's competitive strategy theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies used by organizational leaders of Sun Belt hockey teams to increase revenues. The participants comprised 5 organizational leaders from NHL teams located in Sun Belt locations …

Employee Retention Strategies In U.S. College And Universities, Michael Louis Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover in U.S. colleges and universities negatively affects productivity, resources, employee morale, and job satisfaction. The failure of U.S. colleges and universities’ leaders to retain a viable and productive workforce negatively affects students’ educational success and learning opportunities. Grounded in the motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies college and university leaders used to retain employees. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 5 university leaders in 5 higher-education institutions in the Midwest region of the United States, and a review of publicly available organizational documents and university websites. Data were analyzed …

Strategies To Mitigate The Effects Of Identity Theft In The Hospitality Industry, Patricia Lee Jirsa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders in the U.S. hospitality industry experience significant losses in profitability, increased mitigation cost, and reduced revenues because of business and consumer identity theft. Grounded in the fraud triangle theory and the fraud diamond theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies leaders in the hospitality industry use to mitigate identity theft. A purposeful sample of 5 leaders of 5 different hospitality businesses in Montana participated in the study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, member checking, and a review of company documents. During data analysis using Yin’s 5-step process, 3 key themes emerged: a new …