Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Gwendolyn C. Dooley
Abstract
Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders lacking sustainability strategies experience high rates of business failure through loss of profit. A high rate of SME failure is linked to a lack of competitive advantage, resulting in decreased productivity and profitability. Grounded in resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that three SME leaders in Rivers State used to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents, including employee handbooks and annual reports. The three themes that emerged through thematic analysis were strategic management, stakeholder management strategies, and strategic business processes. A key recommendation for SME leaders is to use proven strategies that retain employees, streamline operational practices, and increase organizational performance, which may lead to economic and community development. The implications for positive social change include the potential to generate more employment opportunities and improve living standards in communities.
Recommended Citation
Tula, Olawe Alaba, "Strategies Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprise Leaders Use for Sustainability Beyond 5 Years in Rivers State" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13853.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13853
