##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##
Published
Apr 23, 2025
Download
Statistic
Read Counter : 0
Download : 0
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Multi-business owners face various experiences in managing their businesses. These experiences can cause both positive and negative effects to a multi-business owner’s physical, mental and emotional aspects. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of multi-business owners in Koronadal City in managing multiple businesses. This research employed a descriptive qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews with five (5) participants who were multi-business owners. These personas have begun from small businesses to well-established ones, they run three (3) or more businesses, and have been in the business industry for at least three (3) years. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis were used to identify key themes from the interview data. The study addressed the experiences of multi-business owners in managing business operations, employees and how they cope with the challenges faced by managing multiple businesses. Analysis revealed that maintaining operations is both hard and rewarding for business owners, showing the tension between competitive demands and personal satisfaction from their work. Marketing strategies, inventory management, and tenant selection all emerge as critical to business success. Employee management is also considered as an essential theme which include setting regulations, conducting meetings, training sessions, performance-based benefits, and virtual monitoring. Monitoring corporate performance, employee disloyalty, and neurodiversity are significant challenges, however coping techniques such as one-on-one communication, problem solving, flexibility, and disciplinary actions can assist alleviate these concerns.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Larase, P. A. C., Tindog, K. M. D., Calunsag, K. C. M., Rendaje, Z. I. S., Retuyan, R. A. C., Bermejo, F. M., Yongque, A. M. G., Enate, B. J. T., & Gaygay Jr. , C. F. (2025). The Path to Success: The Challenges and Coping Mechanisms in Managing Business Operations among Multi-Business Owners in the City of Koronadal. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 6(4), 1563-1574. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.06.04.01
References
Algarme, C. (2020). The pros and cons of serial entrepreneurship. EO Melbourne. https://www.eomelbourne.org/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-serial-entrepreneurship
Alhumeisat, E. K. I. (2023). Influence of strate-gic management on employees' perfor-mance: Mediating role of empowerment. Montenegrin Journal of Economics, 19(2), 141–152. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.14254/1800-5845/2023.19-2.12
Alsoussi, A., & Tahboub, K. (2025). Inventory Management Practices and Challenges: An Exploratory study. An-Najah Jourals. https://journals.najah.edu/journal/anujr-a/first-online/article/2381/
Arman, A., Sohaib, O., Begum, V., & Alkharman, A. A. (2024). Impact of cultural diversity on employee performance. International Journal of Service Science Management Engineering and Technology, 15(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijssmet.342614
Avenue, N. (2022). The advantages of older entrepreneurs. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2022/09/09/the-advantages-of-older-entrepreneurs/?sh=4460d68c1547
Beer, M. (2020). 6 Reasons Your Strategy Isn’t Working. HBR.org. 10. Nevis, E. C., DiBel-la, A. J., & Gould, J. M. (1995). Under-standing organizations as learning sys-tems. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/understanding-organizations-as-learning-systems/
Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualita-tive information: Thematic analysis and code development. Sage Publications, Inc. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-08155-000
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022) Adaptability in the workplace: defining and improving this key skill. Betterup.com. https://www.betterup.com/blog/adaptability
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Quali-tative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications, Inc. Re-search Design | SAGE Publications Ltd
Cuervo-Cazurra, A., Dieleman, M., Hirsch, P., Rodrigues, S. B., & Zyglidopoulos, S. (2021). Multinationals’ misbehavior. Journal of World Business, 56(5), 101244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2021.101244
Donohoe, A. (2019). Reasons why people start their own business. Bizfluent. https://bizfluent.com/facts-5192738-reasons-people-start-own-business.html
Galvão, A., Marques, C., & Ferreira, J. J. (2020). The role of entrepreneurship education and training programmes in advancing entrepreneurial skills and new ventures. European Journal of Training and Devel-opment, 44(6/7), 595–614. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejtd-10-2019-0174
George, T. (2022). Semi-Structured Interview | Definition,Guide & Examples. Scribbr.com. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/semi-structured-interview/
Georgieva, I. (2024). Benefits and challenges of owning multiple businesses. Enterprise League. https://enterpriseleague.com/blog/owning-multiple-businesses/
Goldvarg, D., & Turner, E. (2022). 14 Supervi-sion in the Americas: Working with Vir-tual Technology. Coaching Supervision: Voices from the Americas.
Gul, R., Leong, K., Mubashar, A., Al-Faryan, M. A. S., & Sung, A. (2023). The empirical nexus between data-driven decision-making and productivity: Evidence from Pakistan’s Banking Sector. Cogent Busi-ness & Management, 10(1), 2178290.11.
Handoyo, S., Suharman, H., Ghani, E. K., & Soedarsono, S. (2023). A business strate-gy, operational efficiency, ownership structure, and manufacturing perfor-mance: The moderating role of market uncertainty and competition intensity and its implication on open innovation. Jour-nal of Open Innovation Technology Mar-ket and Complexity, 9(2), 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100039
Harris, J. (2023). Importance of Time Man-agement the Ultimate Guide. The Knowledge Academy. Importance of Time Management in Daily Life
Hill Dickinson. (2023, March 13). Neurodiver-sity – what does it mean within the work-place? https://www.hilldickinson.com/insights/articles/neurodiversity-what-does-it-mean-within-work-place#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNeurodiversity%20refers%20to%20the%20natural,and%20dyspraxia%E2%80%9D%20(CIPD)
Ingram, T. N., LaForge, R. W., Avila, R. A., Schweper Jr, C. H., & Williams, M. R. (2019). Sales management: Analysis and decision making. Routledge.
Kirana, I. B. G. A., Sriathi, A. A. A., & Suwan-dana, I. G. M. (2022). The effect of work environment, work discipline, and work motivation on employee performance in manufacturing company. European Jour-nal of Business and Management Re-search, 7(3), 26-30.
LeBlanc, L. A., & Nosik, M. R. (2019). Planning and Leading Effective Meetings. Behavior analysis in practice, 12(3), 696–708. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00330-z.
Maguire, M., Delahunt, B. (2017). Doing a the-matic analysis: A practical, step-by-step guide for learning and teaching scholars. All Ireland Journal of Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.62707/aishej.v9i3.335
Mokayode, A. O., Adu, E. O., & Ibrahim, S. I. (2016). Exploring Challenges Faced by Small Business Owners on Poverty Re-duction in Rural Eastern Cape, South Af-rica. Studies of Tribes and Tribals, 14(1), 37-43.
Moules, J., et al. (2017). Thematic Analysis: Striving to Meet the Trustworthiness Cri-teria. SageJournals. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940691773384
Nordquist, R. (2019). What is communication? ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-communication-1689877
Opiela, N. (2006). Keeping Small-Business cash flow on track. EBSCOhost. Journal of Fi-nancial Planning, 2006, Vol 19, Issue 7, p26. 1040-3981. https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A7%3A6910167/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A22065589&crl=c&link_origin=scholar.google.com
Pacanowsky, M. E., Trujillo, N. O. (1982). Communication and organizational cul-tures. Western Journal of Speech Com-munication. 10.1080/10570318209374072
Quijano, Y. (2023). 14 Business Trends In The Philippines. Trailblazer. 14 Business Trends In The Philippines - Trailblazer
Regoniel, P. (2024). Descriptive Qualitative Research: A brief guide. SimplyEdu-cate.me. https://simplyeducate.me/2023/04/10/descriptive-qualitative-research/#google_vignette
Sellers TP, Valentino AL, LeBlanc LA. Recom-mended practices for individual supervi-sion of aspiring behavior analysts. Behav-ior Analysis in Practice. 2016;9:274–286. doi: 10.1007/s40617-016-0110-7.
Shani, A. B., & Coghlan, D. (2021). Action re-search in business and management: A reflective review. Action research, 19(3), 518-541.
Sigue-Bisnar, M. (2023, December). Innovation and adaptation: Challenges and opportu-nities for Philippine mid-market firms. The Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/12/13/usiness/top-business/innovation-and adaptation-challenges-and-opportunitiesfor-mid-market-firms/1923973
Siraj, N., & Hágen, I. (2023). Performance management system and its role for em-ployee performance: Evidence from Ethiopian SMEs. Heliyon, 9(11), e21819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21819
Skidmore, S. (2023). Diversity, Definition, Types & Examples. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-diversity-definition-meaning-quiz.html
Sykes, D., & Sykes, D. (2023). The Importance of Adaptability: How Being Adaptable Can Drive Business and Personal Suc-cess.https://www.synture.com/articles/the-importance-of-adaptability-how-being-adaptable-can-drive-business-and-personal-success
Taylor, E. (2023). Why is Communication Im-portant? Its Type, and Ways to improve. https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/why-is-communication-important/
Walden University. (2025, March 10). Top 5 Challenges Small Business Owners Face. https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/business/resource/top-five-challenges-small-business-owners-face
Alhumeisat, E. K. I. (2023). Influence of strate-gic management on employees' perfor-mance: Mediating role of empowerment. Montenegrin Journal of Economics, 19(2), 141–152. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.14254/1800-5845/2023.19-2.12
Alsoussi, A., & Tahboub, K. (2025). Inventory Management Practices and Challenges: An Exploratory study. An-Najah Jourals. https://journals.najah.edu/journal/anujr-a/first-online/article/2381/
Arman, A., Sohaib, O., Begum, V., & Alkharman, A. A. (2024). Impact of cultural diversity on employee performance. International Journal of Service Science Management Engineering and Technology, 15(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijssmet.342614
Avenue, N. (2022). The advantages of older entrepreneurs. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2022/09/09/the-advantages-of-older-entrepreneurs/?sh=4460d68c1547
Beer, M. (2020). 6 Reasons Your Strategy Isn’t Working. HBR.org. 10. Nevis, E. C., DiBel-la, A. J., & Gould, J. M. (1995). Under-standing organizations as learning sys-tems. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/understanding-organizations-as-learning-systems/
Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualita-tive information: Thematic analysis and code development. Sage Publications, Inc. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-08155-000
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022) Adaptability in the workplace: defining and improving this key skill. Betterup.com. https://www.betterup.com/blog/adaptability
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Quali-tative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications, Inc. Re-search Design | SAGE Publications Ltd
Cuervo-Cazurra, A., Dieleman, M., Hirsch, P., Rodrigues, S. B., & Zyglidopoulos, S. (2021). Multinationals’ misbehavior. Journal of World Business, 56(5), 101244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2021.101244
Donohoe, A. (2019). Reasons why people start their own business. Bizfluent. https://bizfluent.com/facts-5192738-reasons-people-start-own-business.html
Galvão, A., Marques, C., & Ferreira, J. J. (2020). The role of entrepreneurship education and training programmes in advancing entrepreneurial skills and new ventures. European Journal of Training and Devel-opment, 44(6/7), 595–614. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejtd-10-2019-0174
George, T. (2022). Semi-Structured Interview | Definition,Guide & Examples. Scribbr.com. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/semi-structured-interview/
Georgieva, I. (2024). Benefits and challenges of owning multiple businesses. Enterprise League. https://enterpriseleague.com/blog/owning-multiple-businesses/
Goldvarg, D., & Turner, E. (2022). 14 Supervi-sion in the Americas: Working with Vir-tual Technology. Coaching Supervision: Voices from the Americas.
Gul, R., Leong, K., Mubashar, A., Al-Faryan, M. A. S., & Sung, A. (2023). The empirical nexus between data-driven decision-making and productivity: Evidence from Pakistan’s Banking Sector. Cogent Busi-ness & Management, 10(1), 2178290.11.
Handoyo, S., Suharman, H., Ghani, E. K., & Soedarsono, S. (2023). A business strate-gy, operational efficiency, ownership structure, and manufacturing perfor-mance: The moderating role of market uncertainty and competition intensity and its implication on open innovation. Jour-nal of Open Innovation Technology Mar-ket and Complexity, 9(2), 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100039
Harris, J. (2023). Importance of Time Man-agement the Ultimate Guide. The Knowledge Academy. Importance of Time Management in Daily Life
Hill Dickinson. (2023, March 13). Neurodiver-sity – what does it mean within the work-place? https://www.hilldickinson.com/insights/articles/neurodiversity-what-does-it-mean-within-work-place#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNeurodiversity%20refers%20to%20the%20natural,and%20dyspraxia%E2%80%9D%20(CIPD)
Ingram, T. N., LaForge, R. W., Avila, R. A., Schweper Jr, C. H., & Williams, M. R. (2019). Sales management: Analysis and decision making. Routledge.
Kirana, I. B. G. A., Sriathi, A. A. A., & Suwan-dana, I. G. M. (2022). The effect of work environment, work discipline, and work motivation on employee performance in manufacturing company. European Jour-nal of Business and Management Re-search, 7(3), 26-30.
LeBlanc, L. A., & Nosik, M. R. (2019). Planning and Leading Effective Meetings. Behavior analysis in practice, 12(3), 696–708. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00330-z.
Maguire, M., Delahunt, B. (2017). Doing a the-matic analysis: A practical, step-by-step guide for learning and teaching scholars. All Ireland Journal of Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.62707/aishej.v9i3.335
Mokayode, A. O., Adu, E. O., & Ibrahim, S. I. (2016). Exploring Challenges Faced by Small Business Owners on Poverty Re-duction in Rural Eastern Cape, South Af-rica. Studies of Tribes and Tribals, 14(1), 37-43.
Moules, J., et al. (2017). Thematic Analysis: Striving to Meet the Trustworthiness Cri-teria. SageJournals. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940691773384
Nordquist, R. (2019). What is communication? ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-communication-1689877
Opiela, N. (2006). Keeping Small-Business cash flow on track. EBSCOhost. Journal of Fi-nancial Planning, 2006, Vol 19, Issue 7, p26. 1040-3981. https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A7%3A6910167/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A22065589&crl=c&link_origin=scholar.google.com
Pacanowsky, M. E., Trujillo, N. O. (1982). Communication and organizational cul-tures. Western Journal of Speech Com-munication. 10.1080/10570318209374072
Quijano, Y. (2023). 14 Business Trends In The Philippines. Trailblazer. 14 Business Trends In The Philippines - Trailblazer
Regoniel, P. (2024). Descriptive Qualitative Research: A brief guide. SimplyEdu-cate.me. https://simplyeducate.me/2023/04/10/descriptive-qualitative-research/#google_vignette
Sellers TP, Valentino AL, LeBlanc LA. Recom-mended practices for individual supervi-sion of aspiring behavior analysts. Behav-ior Analysis in Practice. 2016;9:274–286. doi: 10.1007/s40617-016-0110-7.
Shani, A. B., & Coghlan, D. (2021). Action re-search in business and management: A reflective review. Action research, 19(3), 518-541.
Sigue-Bisnar, M. (2023, December). Innovation and adaptation: Challenges and opportu-nities for Philippine mid-market firms. The Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/12/13/usiness/top-business/innovation-and adaptation-challenges-and-opportunitiesfor-mid-market-firms/1923973
Siraj, N., & Hágen, I. (2023). Performance management system and its role for em-ployee performance: Evidence from Ethiopian SMEs. Heliyon, 9(11), e21819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21819
Skidmore, S. (2023). Diversity, Definition, Types & Examples. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-diversity-definition-meaning-quiz.html
Sykes, D., & Sykes, D. (2023). The Importance of Adaptability: How Being Adaptable Can Drive Business and Personal Suc-cess.https://www.synture.com/articles/the-importance-of-adaptability-how-being-adaptable-can-drive-business-and-personal-success
Taylor, E. (2023). Why is Communication Im-portant? Its Type, and Ways to improve. https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/why-is-communication-important/
Walden University. (2025, March 10). Top 5 Challenges Small Business Owners Face. https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/business/resource/top-five-challenges-small-business-owners-face