Management of micro business in the National Capital Region : a framework for sustainability / Sheryl May E. Ramos. 6

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2014.;A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Management Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Business Administration. 56

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Abstract: The study was made to inspire micro business owners to apply the framework that may help sustain and grow their businesses. It included the assessment and differences of the respondents in the effectiveness of their management practices, the seriousness of the concerns, issues and problems encountered, and the application of strategies utilized to sustain business operations. The study used descriptive research, and qualitative and quantitative designs. The major instruments used in data gathering were survey questionnaire and structured interview. The key informants were purposively selected from 402 micro businesses registered in the local government units in NCR except Makati City due to difficulties encountered in obtaining data from there. The statistical tool used in the data treatment were frequency and percentage distribution, weighted mean and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the study, it was found out that most micro business owners are female middle-aged adults who are high school graduates. Almost half have less than three years of business experience. 48% have no experience in running a business. Half of them are located along major thoroughfares and are in business for only one to three years. Most are engaged in wholesaling and retail trade. More than half has one to four workers with below P100,000 and below P50,000 respectively. In terms of management practices the two youngest groups are effective. The males are effective in HR practices; females are effective in finance practices. The groups based on educational attainment have varying degrees of effectiveness. Those with 1-3 years of business experience have effective management practices. In terms of application of strategies to sustain business operations, most strategies are used sometimes regardless of the owner's profile. The seriousness of the concerns, issues and problems are more serious for the 2 youngest groups but are only quite serious for all other groups according to profile. There were significant difference in the owners in the effectiveness of their management practices and the seriousness of the concerns, issues and problems. In terms of differences in the strategies utilized to sustain business operations, in general, there are significant difference regardless of their profile. The proposed business sustainability framework is composed of four necessary elements. These are the micro business owner's capabilities, business planning and vision-mission-goals, strategies and assistance from the government and other organizations.

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