Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

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

School

Business Administration

Advisor

Chad Sines

Abstract

At the end of 2018, the leading 2,000 U.S. and European companies had more than $2.5 trillion of cash unnecessarily tied up in working capital. The efficient management of working capital will lead to more cash invested in profitable projects leading to long term stability. This research will benefit chief financial officers (CFO) looking for strategies to manage working capital, which leads to higher profits and will help CFOs better manage economic downturns. Using the resource dependence theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore cash conversion cycle (CCC) strategies used by business leaders to support the necessary cash flow to reduce the risk of business failure. The participants comprised 3 CFOs from the Tampa, Florida, metropolitan area who have developed strategies to manage cash. Data were collected via semistructured interviews and company documents. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Four themes emerged: incentives to pay early, using industry standards published by the Risk Management Association for an optimal level of inventory, creditworthiness, and relationships. A key recommendation includes establishing customer financial wherewithal. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide CFOs strategies to reduce the CCC, reduce the risk of business failure, and maintain employment stability, benefiting the community in which it is located.

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