Strategies for Sustaining Small Business Beyond 5 Years
Date of Conferral
10-16-2023
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Business Administration
Advisor
Dr. Matasha Murrell Jones
Abstract
Abstract Small businesses are the pillar of the economy in the United States; the rate of small business failure in the United States is high within the first 5 years of inception. Small business proprietors who embark upon small business initiatives without business preparation and success strategies may experience business failure. Grounded in strategic contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies small business proprietors used to sustain their businesses beyond the first 5 years of inception. The participants were six small business restaurant proprietors in Georgia, US, who effectively used strategies to remain sustainable beyond 5 years. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a review of company documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) delivering training for managers and employees, (b) achieving product quality, (c) maintaining customer service, (d) establishing community involvement, and (e) using technology and network. A key recommendation is for small business restaurant proprietors to build relationships with suppliers, customers, and employees while engaging in daily operations. The implications for positive social change include the potential to enhance economic growth, boost employment, garner additional taxes for the local and state governments and improve residents’ quality of life in local communities.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Althea, "Strategies for Sustaining Small Business Beyond 5 Years" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14954.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14954
