It will be a case study in a small doughnut business (individual business) with no employees yet and my interest is to do a research relating to strategic leadership the owner needs so that her business can develop
I would recommend beginning with a text I use in teaching MBA students entitled Essentials of Strategic Management. It will not only expose you to the elements you will need but has an excellent bibliography of monologues that will address every area of developing a business. The authors are John E. Gamble, Margaret A Peteraf, and Arthur A. Thompson, Jr. It will provide a great framework for your study.
How about using strategies within platforms and networks like linked in and facebook? I always find a challenge being presented in an event motivates me to see it through or for completion. I sometimes make daily challenges for instances- when it comes to marketing/promoting brand awareness I will make efforts to advertise through word-of-mouth/in the field, handouts, visiting a center or school etc. Then I will make a day to market and advertise but solely through virtual means and social media then at the end of the week, I compare what the customers/supporters feedback results are from a short questionnaire of "How did you find us/hear about us"? I hope this helps or atleast gave you some different approaches or tips! Good luck! Fena Enandita
You may study how strategic leadership can foster "sustainability" initiatives within a certain sector such as sensitive industries, heavy industries, among other sectors/settings. Best of luck.
I think you are going to struggle to do a Strategic Leadership study at Masters level in a company with no employees. After all, to be a leader you need people to lead. I would propose you do the following:
Using qualitative study methods to determine a framework for strategic leadership success in setting up confectionery businesses in your area. This is done by interviewing leaders in successful confectionery businesses in your area. Determine what commonalities they share in terms of leadership style, vision, methodology, business structures, proposed value propositions, etc.