Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

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

School

Management

Advisor

D. M. Hanson

Abstract

Business leaders venturing in the microbrewing business sector experience long delays due to federal, state, and city requirements unique to this industry. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used by microbrewers in cases bounded by the fulfillment of the same licensing requirements to launch a microbrewery in Madison County, Alabama. The dynamic capabilities framework served as the conceptual framework for this study. A purposive sampling of 4 microbrewers who possessed tacit knowledge about the microbrewery licensure process participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews providing in-depth information about their strategic approaches. The overarching research question addressed the strategic approaches microbrewers used to complete the microbrewery licensure process. Data analysis included the verbatim transcription of interviews coded for common patterns and themes. The following themes emerged from the data analysis: learning from other brewers, flexible strategic approach, establishing a brewery first, attaining licensing second, business planning strategies, and regulatory echelons for microbrewing licensing. The 4 participants reported that learning from other brewers and applying a flexible strategic approach were the preferred strategies to navigate the licensure process in becoming a commercial microbrewer. The implications for social change include reduction in gap between understanding and effective strategies to fulfill microbrewing licensing that could benefit communities by promoting business creation, employment, and added taxation revenue from craft beers produced, sold, and consumed locally.

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