Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Erica Gamble

Abstract

Independent restaurant owners face challenges of slim profit margins and postpandemic labor shortages without the benefit of additional support their franchised counterparts receive. Independent restaurant owners are concerned about these external pressures making them more vulnerable to closure during economic downturns. Previous researchers have not explored how to use organizational knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to achieve success within an independent restaurant. Grounded in resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies that independent restaurant owners use to acquire, manage, and retain KSAs and sustain their business beyond five years. The participants were three independent restaurant owners operating their restaurants for more than five years. Data were collected using semi structured interviews, observations, and archival record review. Five themes emerged from thematic analysis: use the owner’s prior success, set clear expectations, build upon employee competencies, know the needed KSAs for success, and know the required personality/attitude for the culture. Key recommendations for business owners include networking and building KSAs that help mitigate external pressures; knowing, leveraging, and retaining employee expertise; establishing and maintaining a knowledge-sharing culture; documenting organizational knowledge to mitigate the risk of loss; and knowing and seeking complementary and missing KSAs and personality traits when filling open positions. The implications for positive social change include the potential to reduce poverty by employing and retaining local community members and reducing food waste through more effective knowledge-sharing that manages resource consumption.

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