I need my Draft Prospectus reworded to reduce similarity percentage on Turnitin authenticity report.

Problem Statement (not to exceed 150 words)

Seventy-five percent of small businesses that operate in the United States fail before reaching 10 years of operation (U.S. Small Business Administration, 2014). Small businesses in the United States account for more than 67% of net new job creation each year (U.S. Small Business Administration, 2012). The number of small business failures is a problem because of the impact failing businesses have on the economy through employment and unemployment rates within the United States (Miles, 2013). The general business problem was that some small business owners lack knowledge of what strategies are necessary to ensure sustainability. The specific business problem was that some small business owners lack strategies to sustain their companies beyond 10 years of operation.

Purpose Statement (not to exceed 200 words)

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the business strategies of some small business owners used to sustain their company beyond 10 years of operation. The target population consisted of three successful small business owners from Birmingham, Alabama, who had demonstrated business sustainability beyond 10 years. The study may have implications for positive social change by helping small businesses to achieve business sustainability beyond 10 years of operation. The contribution to social change may be to reduce failure rates and increase the sustainability of small businesses, thus increasing jobs, increasing sales revenue, increasing tax revenue, and reducing the unemployment rate.

Nature of the Study (not to exceed 1 page)

A qualitative methodology was appropriate for the research study because the focus was on exploring, in a behavioral or informational context, the factors that could contribute to small business sustainability. Leedy and Ormrod (2013) defined qualitative research as a research methodology addressing a phenomenon that is difficult or impossible to quantify mathematically or with statistical procedures. The underlying assumption of qualitative research is that, by taking a holistic view of philosophies, events, and procedures based on real-world experiences, the qualitative researcher develops a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon.

A quantitative study was not appropriate for this study because it seeks to gain data that do not allow for feelings or opinions to be expressed and observed (Yin, 2012). Quantitative data do not provide an opportunity for complete understanding of common themes that have emerged through participants sharing the how and why behind running a successful small business. Mixed-method approach consists of both qualitative and quantitative research designs, enabling the researcher to seek information needed to solve a problem instead of identifying a problem’s cause (Sparkes, 2014). Additionally, there were no variables to examine or compare regarding the chosen research topic of small business sustainability beyond 10 years of operation.

There are multiple approaches to a qualitative research design, which include (a) phenomenology, (b) case study, (c) ethnography, and (d) narrative (Yin, 2012). A phenomenological design was not appropriate because it is used when a researcher studies the individual world-views and lived experiences of many individuals (Yin,2012). Additionally, the phenomenological design was not appropriate because the researcher uses this method to look at “unique” experiences of the participants in regards to the phenomena being studied. A case study was appropriate for investigating real-life issues and current phenomena (Yin, 2012). An ethnographic design is appropriate when studying the shared beliefs, behaviors, and experiences of a group over time (Yin, 2012).

The ethnographic design was not suitable for this study because I was not seeking to look at the cultural influences that related to the topic. Researchers use a narrative design to identify the life stories and experiences narrated chronologically by individuals (Yin, 2012). A narrative design was not the best for this study because I was not seeking to tell the life stories of the businesses that participated in the study.

A case study was appropriate for this research study because it allowed me as the researcher to ask how and why questions that focused on a set of events over which I had little to no control (Yin, 2012). The use of the case study research design provided an opportunity to gain in-depth information from business owners who have operated a sustainable small business beyond 10 years. Yin (2012) noted descriptive case studies illustrate events and their specific events. I selected a descriptive qualitative case study to gain an understanding of strategies small business owners use to achieve sustainability beyond 10 years.

Research Question(s) (20 words max per item) and Interview Questions (may include up to 6 to 10 questions depending on the type of study)

The central research question for this study was as follows: What are the business strategies of small business owners who have sustained their businesses beyond 10 years?

Interview/Survey Questions

The following were the open-ended interview questions that addressed the research question:

1. What characteristics must a small business owner possess to operate a sustainable business?

2. What strategies have contributed to your ability to sustain your business and become profitable for the past 10 years?

3. What do you believe is the single most important characteristic a business owner must possess to create a sustainable business?

4. What business strategies have you used to run a profitable business?

5. Is there anything else you want to share concerning the sustainability of your small business?

Conceptual Framework (not to exceed 1 page)

Von Bertalanffy (1950) introduced systems theory during a talk at the University of Chicago in 1937 and in a German journal in 1949. Drack (2009) described a system as components or parts of an interactive system, network, organization, or population. Soojin, Miso, and Joonhwan (2011) noted that systems interact with their environments and can increasingly procure new properties, resulting in a process of continuous evolution. Rather than considering an entity according to the properties of its individual parts, systems theory focuses on the positioning of the components and their connection into a whole. Von Bertalanffy used systems theory to explore relationships between multiple components, objects, or events. The primary concept of systems theory is wholeness (von Bertalanffy, 1972). Systems theory is the discipline of studying interrelationships rather than individual components and patterns of change (Clemens, 2009).

Systems theory further grounded and complimented this study because small business owners have to use multiple processes and skill sets to create a sustainable and profitable business. By looking at how the individual business owners utilized strategies to sustain their business, I was able to determine themes that aid in the sustainability of small business and how those individual themes assist in the wholeness of small business sustainability. Furthermore, systems theory fit this study because I was able to look at the past and present systems and strategies used by individual sustainable small businesses. Having an understanding of how those systems can be duplicated to address the problem for future and existing small businesses is how systems theory applied to the topic of small business sustainability beyond 10 years.