Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Erica Gamble
Abstract
Small businesses are the backbone of the economy in the United States, but they often do not have growth and sustainability strategies. Small business owners who fail to use a strategic plan to focus on growth and sustainability can experience business failure. Grounded in the systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small business retail owners used to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The participants were five small business owners from central Alabama who successfully used strategies for business sustainability. Data were collected via semistructured interviews and reviews of organizational documents and analyzed using a five-step thematic data analysis approach. The four emerging themes were business planning, marketing and community networking, financial management, and managing risk. A key recommendation is for small business retailers to determine potential risks and opportunities and develop a strategic plan for economic sustainability, mitigating risks and facilitating market opportunities. The implications for positive social change include the potential to enhance economic growth, boost local and federal tax revenue, and contribute to economic development and job sustainability.
Recommended Citation
Allen, Wendy M., "Strategies for Small Business Sustainability Beyond 5 Years" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12613.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12613
