Date of Conferral

10-16-2025

Degree

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

School

Management

Advisor

Elisabeth Musil

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the capacity to reshape business operations, yet many small real estate business leaders in the United States struggle to use it effectively due to limited resources and insufficient knowledge of its applications. These challenges place small businesses at risk of reduced competitiveness, inefficiencies, and missed growth opportunities. Grounded in the technology–organization–environment framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to Explore strategies small real estate business owners in the Midwestern United States used to address financial limitations and knowledge gaps in adopting AI. Participants were six small business owners who successfully adopted AI. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and review of organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, six themes emerged: iterative learning and prompting, simplification of AI use, strategic tool selection, time and resource management, external support and delegation, and efficiency through automation. A central recommendation for small business leaders is to adopt incremental AI strategies supported by training and partnerships with technology providers to ensure alignment with business needs and reduce financial risk. The implications for positive social change include the potential to strengthen the viability of small businesses, enhance service quality for clients, and improve the resilience of local communities.

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