Business Commons^™

Transformational Leadership Behavior And Job Satisfaction Among Virginia Small Businesses, Abdulrahman Al-Ahmadi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that the leadership of a business can significantly impact employee performance, with dissatisfied employees performing at a lower level, potentially causing disruption and costs to the business. Several studies have documented the importance of small businesses to the economy in the United States, with small businesses constituting over half of all jobs. This correlational quantitative research study aimed to explore the relationship between the transformational leadership style of the managers of Virginia small businesses and job satisfaction and job performance. The theoretical frameworks used were self-determination theory and transformational leadership. This research examined how transformational leadership wkas …

Business Sustainability Strategies Of Small And Medium Enterprises In South Africa, Celestine Chiedo Aharanwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute a crucial driving force for global economic growth. Some SME business owners face challenges in adopting business sustainability strategies to stay in business beyond five years. The ravages of unemployment due to business closure negatively impact the socio-economic wellbeing of the local community residents. Grounded in the sustainable development theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies SME business owners in South Africa use to stay in business beyond five years. The participants comprised six SME business owners from six industrial sectors in the Gauteng province of South Africa who …

Effective Leadership Strategies To Sustain Small Businesses’ Operations Beyond 5 Years, Sulemana Jawula

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses play a critical role in the job creation and overall growth of the U.S. economy; however, many small businesses fail soon after startup. The failure of small businesses results psychological, social, and financial turmoil for small business leaders. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and Chamberlin’s theory of strategy, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore leadership strategies small business leaders use to sustain their operations beyond 5 years. The participants were five business leaders of five selected small businesses in the Bronx, New York, who used effective leadership strategies to sustain their operations beyond …

Strategies For Small Businesses To Enhance Ethical Financial Reporting, Mercy Nchangnwi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unethical financial reporting can negatively impact the sustainability of a business organization. Small business owners who struggle to promote ethical financial reporting are at high risk of failure. Grounded in the fraud diamond theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small business owners use to enhance ethical financial reporting. The participants comprised four small business owners in Massachusetts who effectively used strategies to enhance ethical financial reporting. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, company documents, and casual observation. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: ethical behavior, internal control and communication, monitoring, …

Business Strategies For Small Business Success In Obtaining Federal Defense Contracts, Christina K. Firth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has one of the largest federal agency budgets for small business set-asides; yet, billions of dollars remain unawarded each fiscal year. Despite the multitude of Congressional programs for small businesses, small business leaders’ engagement with the programs and receipt of successful awards remains low. Grounded in agency theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies five small business owners operating in the southeastern U.S. use to secure and conduct DOD procurement contracts. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, business websites, and archival data. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: …

Strategies To Sustain Small Construction Businesses Beyond The First 5 Years Of Operation, Catherine Nyasha Mukopfa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners employ over half the U.S. labor force, yet only 50% of small businesses survive beyond 5 years. When small business owners understand the factors that lead to their business failure, they can develop strategies to remain sustainable and profitable within the first 5 years, thus reducing the potential of business failure. Grounded in the resource-based theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies five small construction owners in central Georgia used to remain in business beyond 5 years. Data were collected from semi structured interviews, a review of organization income statements and …

Funding Strategies For Small Business Sustainability, Ayokunle O. Iyanda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

About 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years of operation, lacking access to capital being a contributing factor. The high failure rate is of great concern to the business owners; their livelihood and employees are jeopardized. Through the pecking order theory lens, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small business owners use to access capital to sustain the business past the first five years. Eight small business owners who successfully operated for more than five years in Georgia and Illinois participated in the semistructured interviews. Through thematic data analysis, four themes …

Strategies For Small Business Owners To Succeed Beyond Five Years, Arielle Dawn Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, small businesses account for 99.9% of businesses and employ 47.3 % of the U.S. workforce, yet 20% of small businesses fail within the first year of operation. Small business owners who do not have a detailed strategy are at a higher risk of their small business failing before reaching its fifth year of operation. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and entrepreneurial leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies used by five small business owners who have sustained and remained profitable for beyond 5 years. The participants included five …

Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Style And Financial Sustainability, Tameika R. Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only 50% of the U.S. small businesses opened in 2011 were able to maintain financial sustainability. Small business owners struggle with identifying the type of leadership style needed to increase financial sustainability. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and financial sustainability. The participants consisted of 76 small business owners located in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia. The business owners completed a survey containing the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Financial Capability Scale. The data were analyzed using multiple …

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 …

Transfer Of Ownership Strategies For Small Businesses, Kim Leanne Karioja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small- and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of a country’s economic success. But some small business owners lack strategies to successfully transfer their business to a new owner, increasing the probability that the business will cease to exist. Because baby boomer small business owners are retiring at a high rate, long-term local economic sustainability may be affected. Grounded in resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small business owners used to transfer their business to a new owner. The participants were 6 small business owners who successfully transferred their business to a …

Strategies For Improving Rural Small Startup Business Owners Success To Prevent Closures, Hector Lora

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners with unsuccessful startup strategies can negatively impact business sustainability. Small business owners are concerned about startup strategies because 50% of new, small business owners fail within the first 5 years of operation. Grounded in the systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies 4 rural, small startup business owners in Tennessee used to prevent closure within the first 5 years of operation. The participants selected successfully implemented strategies to avoid business closures. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews and revised reports published by the Center for Rural Affairs, U.S. Economic …

Strategies For Sustaining Minority-Owned Small Businesses, Taha Seid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority small businesses play a significant role in the development of the United States economy. Minority small business owners who do not implement successful and sustainable strategies are at a high risk of failure. Grounded in entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that minority small business owners used to sustain their business beyond 5 years of beginning operations. The participants included 3 minority small business owners in Alexandria, Virginia, who have been in business for 5 years. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, field notes, company websites, and financial, marketing, strategy, and …

Strategies To Reduce Voluntary Employee Turnover, Patricia M. Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High voluntary turnover negatively impacts an organization's profits, resulting in high expenses for businesses. The findings contribute to practical ways for small business leaders to maintain long-term employees, minimize operational costs, and enhance local economic stability. Grounded in the concept of transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business leaders use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants comprised 5 private industry leaders in the state of Virginia, who were successful in reducing voluntary employee turnover. Data collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews and analysis of company documents. Based on Yin's …

Business Funding Strategies For Women-Owned Small Businesses, Jefreda R. Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, limitations in funding allocation threaten the viability of small business success. In the United States, women start businesses at faster rates than men do, but women business owners continue to experience challenges in accessing capital to sustain their businesses. Grounded in pecking order theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify business funding strategies women small business owners in Birmingham, Alabama, used to sustain their businesses for more than 5 years. The participants for this study were 3 women small business owners in Birmingham, Alabama, who have used business funding strategies to …

Small Business Leaders’ Strategies For Recruiting Veterans, Jamillah Deangela Stackhouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business hiring managers who fail to implement recruitment strategies for

transitioning military veterans face hiring challenges with this population of workers.

Failed recruitment strategies are essential to small business leaders, as failure to attract

highly qualified military veterans places the organizations at a competitive disadvantage.

Grounded in recruitment theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to

explore strategies used by leaders of small businesses to recruit, hire, and retain qualified

veterans. The participants included 3 purposefully selected hiring managers from 3 small

businesses in southeastern Virginia, who used successful strategies to recruit, hire, and

retain veterans. …

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, …

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 …

Valuation Strategies For Small Businesses' Intangible Assets, Lee Dupree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners who attempt to sell their businesses may not receive full value if they do not adequately value their intangible assets. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore effective strategies business leaders used to value intangible assets when considering the sale of their businesses. The participants for this study were 5 business owners in a metropolitan area in the southeastern United States who had successful valuation experiences during the sale of their businesses. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with participants, methodological triangulation, observations, and review of company documents. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, …

Strategies To Sustain Small Accounting Businesses For Longer Than 5 Years, John Chidi Nwabueze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses represent over 99% of all United States businesses and are engines of economic growth and job creation. In 2018, the Small Business Administration estimated that a total of 30.2 million small businesses employed over 58.9 million workers. Small businesses are known to face significant challenges, and most fail within 5 years of startup. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that owners of small accounting businesses used to sustain their organizations for longer than 5 years. The population in this study consisted of 5 owners of small accounting businesses in Michigan. The conceptual framework …

Small Business Sustainability Strategies In The Tanzanian Construction Materials Industry, Seraphia Robert Mgembe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners in the construction materials industry play a significant role in economic development through gross domestic product and employment. However, like other small business owners, many owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry close their businesses within 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study grounded in the resource-based theory was to explore the strategies that owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry operating in Tanzania used to sustain business for longer than 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 4 purposefully selected owners of small businesses in the construction materials …

Sustainability Strategies Of Barber Salons, Kouassi Gilles Mevo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many barber salons and other small businesses in the United States fail to succeed beyond the first 5 years. The factors responsible for the low survival rate of salons may include the limited training and education levels mandated by state certification requirements. The purpose of this multiple case study was to identify business strategies successful barber salon owners use to overcome the business management and staffing challenges associated with a small pool of skilled barbers and the high turnover in a low wage profession. The theory of transformational leadership served as the conceptual framework. The data collection included interviews of …

Success Factors For Minority Small Business Sustainability, Tawny Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority small business owners significantly contribute to national and local economies. Only 50% of small firm owners sustain their businesses longer than 5 years. The purpose of the multiple case study was to explore the management strategies that minority small business owners used to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The study's population consisted of 4 minority small business owners in the midwestern region of the United States to explore management strategies necessary for maintaining minority small firm operations. The conceptual framework for the study was general system theory. Data sources included semistructured interviews, social media information, company …

Strategies Small Business Owners Use To Remain Sustainable, Desire Luamba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, 41% of small retail businesses fail to succeed for longer than 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small retail business owners used to remain sustainable for more than 5 years. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was Schumpeter's innovation theory. The sample size of this research included 4 successful retail business owners located in the southeastern region of the United States who have successfully started and managed their business activities for more than 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews with successful owners of small retail …

Leadership Strategies To Sustain Small Fitness Businesses, Jacqueline Renee Robertson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development and sustainability of small businesses impact the U.S. economy. Owners of small businesses created 65.9% of new jobs between 2000 and 2017. Over 99.9% of known U.S. firms were small businesses. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the leadership strategies small fitness business owners implemented to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The conceptual framework for this study was the servant leadership theory. The population for the study included 5 owners of small fitness businesses in the southeastern region of the U.S. who used leadership strategies to sustain their businesses for longer …

Business Sustainability Strategies Of Small Technology Companies, Eric Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Each year, almost 12% of small technology companies fail to survive, and the risks associated with high-tech startups are high for business failure due to the introduction of new technology, similar competitor technology, and the short product life cycle of new products. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the business sustainability strategies that some owners of small technology companies used to remain in operation for longer than 5 years. The population for the study was the owners of 5 small technology companies located in the southeast region of the United States. The general systems theory was …

Marketing Strategies Of Successful Coffee Shop Owners, Abi Adeleke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure is an issue with small businesses globally; some owners of small businesses lack the knowledge of business administration and marketing strategies necessary to help ensure success. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore what marketing strategies some coffee shop owners use to sustain business operations during the first 5 years of operation. The targeted population consisted of 5 coffee shop owners in Arkansas who successfully implemented marketing strategies to sustain business operations during the first 5 years of operation. Goldsmith's 8Ps of marketing mix was the conceptual framework used in the study. Data were collected from …

The Role Of Motivation In Financing Women-Owned Businesses, Severine C. Bryan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women-owned small businesses contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, accounting for 55% of all new ventures; however, women entrepreneurs receive only 2% in external financing. The growth of small businesses is contingent on business owners receiving adequate financing. Business leaders should consider how obstacles, such as lack of motivation, impede the pursuit of external financing. Grounded in Vroom's expectancy theory of motivation, the purpose of this correlational study was to analyze the relationships among valence, instrumentality, expectancy, and the desire to seek business financing. The study included women small business owners in the United States. Data were collected from a …

Strategic Working Capital Sourcing Strategies For The Survival Of Small Businesses, Gregory Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fifty percent of small businesses fail before attaining their 5-year anniversary. The lack of sufficient working capital is one of the major reasons for small business failure. Pecking order theory was employed as the conceptual framework for this multiple case study to explore the working capital sourcing strategies of 6 purposely selected successful small business owners in the Southeast region of the United States used to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. Data sources included semistructured interviews and company documents. Data analysis included thematic coding of the material using statistical software. The modified Van Kaam method was used to analyze …

Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises Obtaining Public Procurement Contract Awards, Asha Mcglashan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The dominance of federal and state contracts by large enterprises reduces the share of contracts small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) business leaders obtain. As of the last census reading in 2016, SMEs received only 23% of contracts. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies of 3 small business leaders, operating in south Florida, for obtaining state contracts through public procurement. The thematic findings were in the context of the principal-agent theory as the conceptual framework. The participants answered 10 questions in semistructured interviews and provided organizational procurement documents for review. The methodological triangulation of multiple …