Micro and small enterprise (MSE) owners in Kenya are faced with a myriad of constraints that affect their survival for longer than the first 5 years. Owners of MSEs who are unable to identify and implement strategies may not succeed in sustaining their businesses. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies owners of MSEs in Nairobi, Kenya, used to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The conceptual framework for the study was the theory of constraints. Data were collected from 4 purposefully selected MSE owners in Nairobi, Kenya, through face-to-face, semistructured interviews, and review of field notes and company documents. Using thematic data analysis, the major themes that emerged were customer service, access to capital, and nearness to market. The implications of this study for positive social change include strategies for MSE owners to generate stable income for employees, new employment opportunities for job seekers, improved standards of healthcare and education for the community, and a positive lifestyle for the residents of Kenya.

Small businesses play a key role in the health of the U.S. economy; however, approximately 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years of operation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by owners of small businesses to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The conceptual framework used was the resource-based theory. The population of this study consisted of 3 owners of small businesses in North Carolina who sustained their businesses for at least 5 years. The data sources included semistructured interviews of the participants as well as business websites, social media pages, and documents. The data analysis process included data cleaning, uploading transcribed interviews into qualitative data analysis software, organizing, and coding. Member checking and triangulation with the data sources helped ensure methodological saturation and trustworthiness of interpretations. The thematic analysis led to the identification of 5 major themes contributing to company sustainability: strategic business planning and financial planning, risk management and cost control strategies, networking and relationship building, innovation and niche marketing, and environmental scanning. The results of further analysis indicated that the 3 strategies needed for success by owners of small businesses were strategic business planning and financial planning, networking and relationship building, and niche marketing. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to improve the competence of small business owners and business sustainability, increase small business profit, and provide a better quality of life to employees and better welfare for their communities, benefiting the entire U.S. economy.

Owners of small retail businesses who fail to implement adequate managerial strategies experience reduced profits and sustainability challenges. Small businesses account for 85.3% of the market, and 66% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years due to low sales and personnel issues. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the managerial strategies that owners of successful small retail businesses implemented to sustain their operations for longer than the first 5 years. The population for the study included owners of 3 small retail businesses in the southeastern region of the United States, who successfully implemented managerial strategies and remained in business for longer than 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with the owners and from a review of the company websites and social media pages. Systems theory and the general systems theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Data were analyzed in accordance with Yin's 5-phase data analysis process consisting of pattern matching, explanation building, time-series analysis, program logic models, and cross-case synthesis. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: updating the business model, addressing customer feedback, and enhancing business efficiency. The findings of this study could contribute to positive social change by providing insights for owners of small retail businesses regarding strategy execution for managerial approaches that increase business productivity, which may lead to the improved economic wellbeing of some employees as well as positive contributions to the communities' retail businesses serve.

The United States has a high failure rate of small businesses, with 30% of small business failing within the first 2 years. The objective of this case study was to explore strategies successful small business owners use to achieve profitability beyond 5 years. The purposive sample for this study included 4 owners of successful small businesses in Atlanta, Georgia, who have been in business for at least 5 years. The conceptual framework was built upon disruptive innovation and susceptibility theory. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and company documents. The analysis revealed 3 themes, market research, passion and determination, and innovation. Successful small business leaders use market research to understand the business environment and customers' needs. Entrepreneurs should conduct market research to develop strategies to remain successful. Innovation is essential for business success and successful entrepreneurs innovate to adapt to new business trends. Small business owners who innovate remain competitive and profitable. Business leaders will benefit from this study's findings by gaining insight into how the leaders of successful organizations implement strategies to stay profitable and competitive. Small business leaders may use the findings to enable economic development in various communities, and create valuable jobs for local residents. Social implications include the improved local and state economy and the standard of living in communities. Small business owners will be able to sustain their businesses and contribute to the prosperity of their employees, their families, health of the community, and the local economy.

Small businesses are considered the backbone of the U.S. economy with significant contributions in the areas of job creation and economic development. However, 79% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years. This multiple case study aimed to explore strategies and knowledge of resources that owners of small businesses used to sustain business operations for longer than the first 5 years. The population included 5 minority owners of small businesses in Texas. Chaos theory formed the conceptual framework. The data collection process included semistructured interviews, member checks, field notes, company artifacts, and archival documents. Data were analyzed using Yin's data analysis steps of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding. Three themes emerged from the analysis: effective management of the business environment, effective planning, and business owners' skills and knowledge. The U.S. Small Business Administration, local chambers of commerce, and owners of small businesses may benefit from the findings of this study by gaining an understanding of successful minority owners of small businesses' implemented strategies that enable business success and profitability. The implications of this study for positive social change include identifying sustainable strategies minority owners of small businesses can use to advance business growth, increase financial security, achieve employee job sustainability, and potentially stimulate the local community with job creation.

Diversos autores coinciden que la asociatividad, entre organizaciones empresariales independientes, resultaría ser una estrategia que al emplearla permite a las empresas generar beneficios que difícilmente podrían obtener si trabajan individualmente, permitiendo así enfrentar diversas barreras, que entre otros aspectos, pone en riesgo su tiempo de permanencia en el mercado. La estructura empresarial peruana se encuentra representada en un gran porcentaje por micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (Mipyme), cuya contribución en la economía no es consistente con la proporción que esta representa. Ello indica que estas empresas cuentan con potencial que no ha sido desarrollado y que le permitiría lograr un mayor aporte. Sin embargo, estas empresas, por su naturaleza, presentan obstáculos que impiden su continuidad en el mercado. El sector agropecuario en Perú, registra un crecimiento favorable cuyo impacto en el desarrollo del país cumple un rol esencial para el crecimiento de la economía de manera sostenible, aportando en la equidad y la generación de empleo, sobre todo a los pequeños productores peruanos. En ese sentido, la presente investigación plantea como objetivo principal determinar si la estrategia de asociatividad influye significativamente en la supervivencia empresarial de las Mipyme del sector agrario del Perú. A partir del planteamiento metodológico se elaboró un instrumento a medida, el cual se aplicó a cuarenta y nueve cooperativas del sector agrario, distribuidas a lo largo del territorio peruano. Luego de la recolección y el análisis estadístico de la información, se concluyó con la afirmación de la hipótesis general y las específicas planteadas en la investigación. / Various authors agree that associativity, between independent business organizations, would appear to be a strategy that, when used, allows companies to generate benefits that they could hardly obtain if they work individually, thus allowing them to face various barriers, which, among other aspects, put their time in the market at risk. The Peruvian business structure is represented in a large percentage by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (Mipyme), which contribution to the economy is not consistent with the proportion it represents. This indicates that these companies have not developed their potential that would allow them to achieve a greater contribution. However, these companies, by their nature, present obstacles that prevent their continuity in the market. The agricultural sector in Peru registers a favorable growth which impact on the country development plays an essential role for the economy growth in a sustainable way, contributing to equity and the generation of employment, especially to small Peruvian producers. In this sense, the main objective of this research is to determine if the associativity strategy significantly influences Mipyme’s factors of business survival in the Peruvian agricultural sector. Based on the methodological approach, a custom-made instrument was developed, which was applied to forty-nine cooperatives in the agricultural sector distributed throughout the Peruvian territory. After collecting and statistically analyzing the information, it was concluded with the affirmation of the general hypothesis and the specific ones raised in the research. / Tesis

The absence of adequate crisis management strategies in small firms could result in a premature small business closure. A qualitative multiple-case study was used to explore the crisis management strategies that 3 small business owners have used to survive an unexpected operational interruption. The small business owners in this study were from different industries in the southeast region of the United States and each owner owned a business for more than 5 years and had survived at least a single crisis. The theory of crisis management and crisis intervention theory were the conceptual frameworks for this study. Data collection occurred through semistructured face-to-face interviews with small business owners; observations; and a review of company documents comprised of business plans, insurance policies, floor plans, and emergency exit routes. Data were thematically analyzed and then triangulated to ensure trustworthiness of interpretations. The findings included 3 emergent themes: the importance of developing survival strategies; transparency, open communication, and relationship building; and creative thinking as a survival strategy. Recommendations for action include securing adequate insurance coverage, investing in a worker's compensation policy, and maintaining transparent and fluent communications with vendors and consumers. Small business owners who implement survival strategies may contribute to positive social change by continuing to create employment opportunities that improve economic conditions in local communities.

Small businesses are critical to economic development. Small businesses create job opportunities and training and innovative products and services, but they encounter significant challenges and many fail in the first 7 years due to lack of sustainable strategies. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies owners used to sustain small energy consulting businesses for longer than 7 years. The population in this study consisted of 5 senior executives of a small energy consulting firm in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The conceptual framework for the study was the transformational leadership theory that deals with vision and empowerment aimed at increasing both employee effectiveness and well-€being to positively aid employee outcomes, commitment, role clarity, and prosperity. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews and a review of company documents. After data analysis using thematic analysis and methodological triangulation, 7 themes emerged: functional vision, planning, skilled human resources, match approach to strategy, create market share, good leadership, and staying in tune with innovation. Implications of this study for social change include the potential for small energy consulting businesses to improve in the quality of life in the local environment by playing a vital role in the culture and economy of the community. Implementing the strategies may result in improving a firm's profitability and sustainability and contributing to social change for the local communities by reducing unemployment, offering competitive compensation, providing improved working conditions, and improving work-€life practices.

There has been few research studies aimed at investigating strategy in small businesses. The current study sought to contribute to small business management and help small businesses attain success as they are important in any economy. Furthermore to close the gap as a response to the call for research in what people actually do when strategising. The following study explored the strategising practices of small business managers from the accommodation sector and the tools they use when strategising. A total of 12 interviews were conducted during the period 2014-2015 in the Tshwane metropolitan area. The findings of the study show that small business managers strategise although not in the way proposed by literature which may reveal that strategy-as-practice may be more appropriate for small businesses. The findings also show the tools that small business managers use in strategising. The research will serve as a contribution to the current challenges facing small businesses in the practice of strategic management or lack thereof in the managing of small businesses to ensure success. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Dans cette thèse, nous identifions les déterminants de la survie des nouvelles entreprises créées par les jeunes diplômés de l'enseignement supérieur, bénéficiant de prêts bancaires à taux bonifié. Un accent est mis sur l’impact des politiques d’aides publiques. Les données sont issues d’une enquête réalisée en 2013, sous la tutelle de l’Université de Sfax, sur une cohorte de 160 entreprises créées entre le 01/01/2008 et 31/12/2008, soit cinq ans après la création. Le taux de réponse était de 81,25%. Après avoir évoqué la problématique de survie de la petite entreprise nouvellement créée, nous recourons aux modèles de durée, et plus précisément au modèle semi-paramétrique de Cox (1972). L’analyse conduit à mettre en lumière qu’un entrepreneur voit son entreprise plus pérenne, lorsqu’il s’agit d’un homme étudiant qui s’est lancé dans les affaires l’année de l’obtention de son diplôme, ayant un entourage entrepreneurial qui stimule chez lui le goût d’entreprendre et d’indépendance. L’amélioration de la survie découle de la similitude entre l’activité préalable de l’entrepreneur et l’activité de son entreprise, et la détention d’un capital initial de démarrage qui dépasse les 30.000 DT. Les aides octroyées par l’Etat aux nouveaux promoteurs (subvention d’investissement, bourse d’accompagnement, allégement des charges sociales et patronales) ne contribuent pas à diminuer le risque de l’échec entrepreneurial, à l’exception de la prise en charge par l’Etat d’une partie des salaires. Par contre une entreprise bénéficiant d’une formation entrepreneuriale et d’un accompagnement post-création, voit sa probabilité de survie s’accroître. / In this dissertation we identify the determinants of the longevity and the probability of survival of small businesses created by young graduates benefiting from bank loans at enhanced rates. The focus is on the policy impact of public support for the creation of companies. The data are based on a survey conducted in 2013 under the tutelage of the University of Sfax (Tunisia) of a cohort of 160 companies five years after they were first formed. The response rate was 81.25%. After discussing the issue of the survival of newly-established companies and the factors that promote their survival, we use duration models specifically the Cox model (1972). This analysis allows us to shed light on a business is more likely to survive if the entrepreneur is a male who started his business within a year of graduating and comes from an entrepreneurial background, stimulating his entrepreneurial spirit. The improved longevity of small companies ensues from the similarity between the entrepreneur’s previous occupation and the activity of his own company, and from the initial start-up capital if it exceeds 30.000 DT. Aid granted by the State for new promoters (investment subsidy, grant, and reduction in social security contributions) does not help reduce the risk of entrepreneurial failure with the exception of State aid to support a portion of employees’ wages. On the other hand, a company benefiting from entrepreneurial training before creation and from support post-creation sees its probability of survival rise.