Date of Conferral
2021
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Brandon Simmons
Abstract
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: knowledge, resources, performance, and sustainability. A key recommendation is for small business leaders to use their local Procurement Technical Assistance Center and Small Business Association office as primary expert resources. The implications for positive social change are the potential to increase small business sustainability, which can lead to lower unemployment and an increase in community investment.
Recommended Citation
Firth, Christina K., "Business Strategies for Small Business Success in Obtaining Federal Defense Contracts" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 10987.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/10987
