Social Disorder and Level of Engagement of Small Business Owners in the Virgin Islands

Social Disorder and Level of Engagement of Small Business Owners in the Virgin Islands by Saul Santiago Cordero MA, University of Phoenix, 2005 BS, Robert Morris College, 2002 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Advanced Management and Decision Sciences Walden University January 2015 Abstract The U.S. Virgin Islands is experiencing an economic recession, manifested through social disorders such as abandoned and vandalized houses. Research points to social disorders and lack of community engagement as key factors inhibiting community development efforts. In order to strengthen these struggling communities, research has highlighted the need for public–private partnerships. Guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior,The U.S. Virgin Islands is experiencing an economic recession, manifested through social disorders such as abandoned and vandalized houses. Research points to social disorders and lack of community engagement as key factors inhibiting community development efforts. In order to strengthen these struggling communities, research has highlighted the need for public–private partnerships. Guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, which posits that attitudes can predict behaviors, this study examined the relationship between social disorder and engagement of small business owners in community development. Small business owners in the U.S. Virgin Islands received an Internet or paper survey; a total of 79 completed surveys out of the 220 who were contacted. A Spearman rank-ordered correlations test and multiple regression were used to analyze the responses, with physical and social disorder, number of employees, and years of operation as the independent variables, and community engagement level as the dependent variable. The findings revealed a strong community engagement from the business owners, although none of the independent variables had a statistically significant relationship with the dependent variable. The findings also indicated which areas of social disorder most concerned small business owners. This study can have a positive social impact by identifying common areas of distress, which can help spur greater collaboration between community stakeholders and local small businesses, thereby creating an improved local environment Social Disorder and Level of Engagement of Small Business Owners in the Virgin Islands by Saul Santiago Cordero MA, University of Phoenix, 2005 BS, Robert Morris College, 2002 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Advanced Management and Decision Sciences Walden University January 2015 Dedication This study is dedicated to my father, Santiago Santiago Diaz, who instilled in me a love of learning and a drive for academic achievement. I know he will celebrate this accomplishment with pride in his heart. To my wife, Jamie, and my children, Jai-Lynn, Savian, and Samuel, who have endured my dedication to the study while also serving as my main motivation to succeed. To my mother, Minerva, who always expected great things from all her children. Additionally, I would like to dedicate this study to my brother Samuel, and my sisters Ruth and Marta, who encouraged me through this long journey and didn’t allow me to quit. Without the support I received, this study would not have been possible. Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge the following people whose guidance and support enabled me to complete this milestone: First, I would like to recognize my dissertation committee chair and faculty mentor, Dr. Walter McCollum, for his unwavering support from the moment we first met more than three years ago. I couldn’t imagine completing this journey with anyone else as my guide. Second, I would like to thank Drs. Marilyn Simon and Mohammad Sharifzadeh for their contributions in shaping this study and ensuring that it would meet the high standards of dissertation writing. To my dissertation editor, Toni Williams, and statistician, Dr. Tom Granoff, for going above and beyond to ensure that I put my best foot forward in my scholarly work. To the many coworkers at the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education who offered words of advice and encouragement. To the Chamber of Commerce for St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix, who granted me access to their members, as well as to the small business owners who contributed by participating in my study.