Date of Conferral
12-10-2025
Date of Award
December 2025
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Lisa Kangas
Abstract
Ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in small businesses can damage brand reputation, reduce employee retention, and hinder sustainability. Small business leaders are concerned about these risks, as a large majority of consumers expect companies to act on environmental, social, and governance issues. Grounded in Carroll’s CSR pyramid, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small business leaders in the Western United States use to enhance brand reputation. The participants were six small business leaders with effective strategies to enhance brand reputation. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of 10 CSR reports. Thematic analysis identified six themes: strengthen ethical practices, engage employees in values-driven CSR, communicate CSR strategies, adapt strategies to feedback and resources, address structural barriers, and formalize processes to overcome barriers. A key recommendation is for small business leaders to leverage community and industry networks to adopt scalable CSR practices. The implications for positive social change include the potential for small business leaders to strengthen trust, enhance well-being, and promote sustainability through ethical integrity, employee engagement, and community collaboration.
Recommended Citation
Cativo, William, "Development of an Educational Intervention to Enhance Nurses’ Knowledge and Intent to Implement Evidence-Based Diabetes Self-Management in Clinical Practice" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19042.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19042
