Business Commons^™

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 To Integrate Technological Innovations For Caribbean Small- And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Deborah J. Mahabir-Yearwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Up to 59% of managers in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) fail to integrate technological innovation (TI) strategies. Restricted access to sophisticated technology, limited capital, and discontinuous collaborations between SMEs and government organizations hamper the successful integration of TI by managers of Caribbean SMEs. Managers of SMEs in the Caribbean region must exploit strategies for improved efficiencies in operational capacity, continuous development in business profits and growth, and surviving hyper-competition. Grounded by the theories of diffusion of innovation and adopter-based instrumentalist, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that 4 operation managers of SMEs …

Maintaining Small Retail Business Profitability By Reducing Cyberattacks, Ira Johnson Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective cybersecurity strategies can detrimentally impact business profits. Small business owners who face challenges in remaining profitable because of increased cyberattacks on their business are at risk of failure. Grounded in general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some small business owners in the retail industry used to reduce cyberattacks to remain profitable. The participants consisted of 5 small retail business owners in the central region of Alabama, who implemented successful strategies to reduce cyberattacks and maintain profitability. Based on the methodological triangulation of the data sources, and analyzing the data using …

Strategies Human Resource Managers Use To Reduce Employee Turnover, Fatema Turkistani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the highest costs of employee turnover in the United States is in the pharmaceutical industry, where employee turnover is on the rise and affects profitability. Pharmaceutical leaders and resource managers are concerned with employee turnover because the estimated costs of employee turnover range between 70% and 300% of an employee’s annual salary. Using Bass’s transformational leadership theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies human resource managers in the pharmaceutical industry use to reduce employee turnover. Data were collected from a review of company documents and face-to-face semistructured interviews …

An Examination Of Corporate Financial Performance Within Corporate Socially Responsible Standard & Poor 500 Companies, Kevin J. Utzig

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many managers are failing to predict and respond to the evolutionary changes within their firm’s business environment. Some experts believe that any company not utilizing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy will lose customers, which will have a direct impact on the firm’s financial performance. Managers lack a clear understanding of the impacts of CSR strategies on corporate financial performance. The purpose of this quantitative multiple regression-based study was to examine what relationship existed between an organization’s CSR strategy and its financial performance. The conceptual frameworks for this research were stakeholder and triple bottom line theories. These frameworks were selected …

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 …

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, …

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 …

The Effect Of Self-Control And Grit On Female Leader Emergence, Heather E. Mitterer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women account for 47% of the total workforce in the United States, but only 27% of women hold executive positions. The purpose of this study was to assess whether and to what extent a significant relationship exists between self-control and grit, as well as the effect that both have on female leader emergence within male-dominated industries of manufacturing, computer science, and engineering in the United States. The goal of this research was to show how gender stereotypes shape a woman’s journey to leadership, with a focus that does not characterize women as victims of discrimination, but rather empowers women to …

Transformational Leadership And Fiscal Sustainability In African American Churches, James Munford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American church leaders often experience difficulty responding to financial crises, which ultimately increases their risk of organizational failure. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine the relationship between transformational leadership and fiscal sustainability of African American churches in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, California, and the District of Columbia. Data were gathered from online surveys received from 92 adult church leaders who were responsible for the daily administration of their church’s duties and responsibilities. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated the model significantly …

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 …

Strategies For Cultural Integration Following Cross-Border Mergers And Acquisitions, Kimihiro Iwao

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) strategies can negatively impact value creation. Global information and communications technology (ICT) company leaders who do not effectively manage M&As risk eventual divestiture of their acquired targets. Guided by Haspeslagh and Jemison’s acquisition integration approach model and Hofstede’s 5 dimensions of national cultural theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that leaders of global ICT companies use to integrate diverse workers following cross-border M&As. The participants were 8 IMs from low context cultures who supervised acquired foreign workers primarily from high context cultures. Data were collected through semistructured …

Subsidized Rental Income, Nonrental Income, And Profitability In Tax Credit Development Companies, Samuel Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Identifying sustainable income streams is a challenge for affordable housing developers to achieve profitable operations. To sustain successful operations, tax credit developers often need to understand the association between subsidized rental income (SRI), nonrental income (NRI), and profitability. Framed within the supply-side and demand-side economic theories, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between SRI, NRI, and profitability. Secondary financial data were collected from a random sample of 31 tax credit companies and public housing authorities for the year 2015 within the state of Florida. The results of the multiple regression analysis were not significant in …

Motivational Strategies To Retain Insurance Finance Professionals, Derrick Anthony Blythe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The failure to retain talented employees can have adverse organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned with retaining talented employees, as retaining talented employees is critical for maintaining their corporations’ competitive advantage. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore motivational strategies insurance finance managers use to retain talented insurance finance professionals. The participants consisted of 6 insurance finance managers in 4 mid-to-large size insurance companies in Connecticut who successfully implemented motivational strategies to retain their talented insurance finance professionals and 8 focus group participants. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a …

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 …

Strategies For Managing Offshore Outsourcing For Business Sustainability, Idrissa Maiga Hamidou Issa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective offshore outsourcing strategies can contribute to unexpected and significant costs for businesses. Strategies to improve outsourcing outcomes are critical to business managers because often third parties contracted to implement offshore outsourcing fail to fulfil business managers’ expectations who can benefit from understanding how to manage outsourced operations and anticipate potential problems. Grounded in transaction cost theory, cultural and customs theory, and the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies and processes business managers use to maintain their organization after the implementation of offshore outsourcing. The participants consisted of 3 managers who …

A Meta-Analysis Of E-Recruitment Applicant Experience, Perception, And Behavior, Diem J. Mooney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

E-recruitment, an Internet-based approach for recruitment, has been shown to be an efficient method for organizations to reach a target candidate population. However, challenges with recruitment websites have resulted in high rates of job seekers abandoning an online application before completion. A quantitative meta-analytic review of literature from 2009 to 2019 was conducted to determine the relationship between applicant user experience (UX) when interacting with an organization’s e-recruitment website, applicant perceptions of the hiring organization, and applicant behaviors related to pursuing employment. The review initially considered 105 candidate articles, of which 41 were consider after applying initial inclusions criteria. After …

Performance Evaluation Criteria For Project Managers, Nestor Briones Aquino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supervisors of business project managers lack strategies to effectively evaluate the work of project managers, increasing the probability of project failure, and costing organizations billions of dollars in losses each year. Effective evaluation of the work of project managers is essential to avoid project failure. Grounded in Kaplan and Norton’s balanced scorecard theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies supervisors of business project managers use to evaluate the project managers’ work. The participants comprised 3 supervisors of project managers in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States with successful experience in evaluating the …

The Impact Of Small Business Leadership On Employee Turnover, Zanlandria M. Crosby-Hardin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover creates a skill loss and negatively affects productivity, reducing organizational effectiveness as well as increasing costs for recruitment and training of new employees. This important to business owners who want to sustain employees, prevent loss of profit, and productivity. Herzberg’s two-factor theory was the conceptual lens for this qualitative multiple case study which explored hair salon owners’ strategies to reduce employee turnover. The participants were 5 hair salon owners in the state of South Carolina. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and an analysis of company documents. Data were analyzed using Yin’s 5 phase process to identify patterns …

Exploring Spiritual Intelligence And Career Success Among People Of Color Working In Nonprofit Educational Institutions, Janelle C. Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Performance management frameworks in public educational institutions have not dealt with some of the challenges in creating an environment that reflects organizational commitment, sustainability, productivity, and retention among academic staff. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of people of color regarding the challenges they face involving the use of spiritual intelligence in the workplace. Garner’s multiple intelligence theory served as the foundation for this study. The key research question focused on the perceptions of people of color working in nonprofit educational institutions regarding the role that spiritual intelligence played in their workplaces and career successes. …

Relationship Between Project Changes, Project Objectives, And Employee Engagement, Jaclyn Hartwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of employee engagement is detrimental to the success of organizations across industries. Project managers will see a negative impact on project success if they do not focus on engaging their team members throughout the project life cycle. Grounded in House’s path-goal theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between project changes, project objectives, and employee engagement. Data were collected using SurveyMonkey to gather online survey responses from 76 project managers working in Indiana. The results of the standard multiple linear regression analysis indicated the full model was not statistically significant in distinguishing the …

Strategies For Successful Healthcare Information Technology Projects, Chareese Dionne Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Without successful information technology (IT) implementations, IT managers and project managers (PMs) would fail to support their customers' and patients' technological needs. IT managers in healthcare organizations who improve IT project success rates will enhance the organization’s financial health. Grounded in the transformational leadership model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some IT managers in healthcare organizations use to deliver IT projects meeting deliverable requirements. The participants were 5 IT managers and PMs in healthcare organizations in a metropolitan area of California who effectively used strategies to successfully deliver IT projects for health organizations. …

Integration Workplace Practices For Generation Z- An E-Delphi Study, Unnatti Jain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective integration of new generations of employees has been a problem for organizations for decades, resulting in high turnover, increased costs, and lowered revenue. Generation Z (Gen Z) has recently entered the workforce and is experiencing the same ineffective integration practices as prior generations, with characteristics and expectations that conflict with current work climates. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the level of consensus among 15 midlevel organizational managers over the age of 30, employed at a mid-level managers’ position with a direct reporting line of 20 or more employees for a minimum of 2 years, possessing …

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 …

Organizational Support For Critical Incident Wellness And Crime Scene Investigators’ Perceived Effectiveness, Leggie Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement agencies are frequently studied for officer wellness, yet research is limited in the influence of organizational support for the psychological wellness of crime scene investigators exposed to tragic scenes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the perceptions of job performance effectiveness of crime scene investigators based on organizational support through the provision of stress management resources. The theoretical framework of organizational support theory and management theory formed the basis of the investigation into the contributing elements of job performance. Data were collected through surveys from 92 crime scene investigators, of whom 77 were civilians and …

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 …

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 …

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 Strategies To Lead Change Initiatives, Lorice S. Edwards Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As financial systems, global trade, and the regulatory environment integrate, business leaders are often ill equipped to develop and implement strategies to lead changes in organizations. Business leaders who lead change initiatives without proven sustainability strategies are highly susceptible to business closure. Grounded in Lewin's theory of change, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies some business leaders used to develop and manage change initiatives to remain operable beyond 5 years. The participants included 4 industry business leaders with a minimum of 5 years of successful change leadership experience. The data collection included semistructured …