Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

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

School

Management

Advisor

Marilyn Simon

Abstract

Some global manufacturing businesses fail to reach an adequate level of financial

performance within 5 years. The purpose of this single case study was to explore

innovation strategies that business leaders of a global machinery manufacturing company

in northwestern Illinois used to increase profit margins. The conceptual frameworks for

this study included the holistic innovation model and the disruptive innovation theory. A

purposeful sample of 9 business leaders who had more than 5 years of experience in the

manufacturing industry and more than 2 years of experience using innovation strategies

participated in the study. Data were collected from semistructured in-depth interviews

and business documents, including multiyear strategic plans, annual reports, marketing

campaign fliers, sustainability reports, customer needs documentation, statements, and

other relevant information from the company's website. Data analysis involved manual

and computer-aided techniques to compile the data, disassemble the data into codes, and

reassemble the data into themes. The overarching theme emerging from data analysis was

the importance of increasing a firm's competitiveness and sustaining profitable growth.

There were 8 subthemes: distinctive customer experience, technology-based

modernization, distinctive product quality, business model advantage, diversity of

thoughts and inclusion, strategic partnerships and alliances, speed, and win in

aftermarket. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential

to provide business leaders with evidence-based ideas to improve economic strength and

sustainable development in the community.

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