Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Business Administration
Advisor
Isabel Wan
Abstract
Small businesses in the United States struggle to globalize and compete in a globalized economy, which diminishes their growth and investment opportunities. Small business owners in the United States struggle to expand their business globally due to the lack of information, which limits their profitability. Grounded in Porter's five forces theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore small retail business owners' strategies to improve their profitability opportunities through global expansion. The participants were five small retail business owners in the Northeast region of the United States who successfully expanded their business internationally. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a review of public organizations' documents. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) strategic positioning, (b) value creation, (c) social networks, and (d) digital platforms. A key recommendation is for small retail business owners to employ the following strategies: a) perform regional market research analysis on the target expansion location, (b) use digital platforms, (c) add value to offerings, and (d) keep in touch with clients, suppliers, marketplaces, and influencers. The implications for positive social change include the potential to help small businesses succeed, which can reduce poverty, increase labor rights, and improve living standards.
Recommended Citation
Alkhudari, May, "International Expansion Strategies for Small Businesses" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13952.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13952
