Date of Conferral
8-21-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Annie Brown
Abstract
Voluntary employee turnover remains a significant challenge for small business owners in the car dealership industry. Small business owners are concerned because employee turnover increases recruitment and training costs, disrupts operations, and can reduce profitability. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore effective strategies some small business owners in the car dealership industry use to decrease voluntary employee turnover in North Florida. The participants were three small business owners in the car dealership industry in North Florida who had implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with the three small business owners of car dealerships. Through thematic analysis of the data, three themes emerged: (a) employee compensation, (b) employee communication, and (c) employee morale. Key recommendations from participants included listening to employees, effective communication, maintaining a positive work atmosphere, and offering competitive pay, incentives, and bonuses to boost employee morale. The implications for positive social change include the potential for small business owners in the car dealership industry to foster more supportive work environments, thereby enhancing job stability for dealership staff, strengthening the local community workforce, and contributing to the economic vitality of North Florida.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Darious D., "Small Business Owner Strategies to Decrease Voluntary Employee Turnover" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20735.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20735
