Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Information Systems and Technology
Advisor
John Hannon
Abstract
Small businesses in the United States safeguard long-term employment opportunities, job security, and economic growth, yet only 50% of small business establishments survive beyond the first 5 years of startup. Small business survival is vital to the health of an economy, given the number of employees that depend on income generated from jobs created by small business owners. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore leadership strategies small retail store managers use to sustain business operations beyond the first 5 years. The participants comprised 6 small retail store managers in Columbia, South Carolina. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, company documents, and websites and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three major themes emerged from the data: setting the tone, motivation and reward, and managing capabilities. A key recommendation is for leaders to lead by example and model desired behaviors for subordinates to emulate. The implications for positive social change include the potential to increase the local community’s economic development through job creation, provision of goods and services, and facilitation of commerce
Recommended Citation
NGWA, DONALD AKAH, "Leadership Strategies to Engage Employees and Sustain Small Businesses" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13647.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13647
