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Background: The Covid-19 pandemic will have an impact on the funding strategies of companies in the health sector, as fluctuations in income will play a significant role in determining their ability to finance various activities. This phenomenon will manifest itself in the context of capital structure policy determinations. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the capital structure behavior of healthcare companies in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach: Utilizing the data from fourteen companies that were listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period of 2017-2022, a panel data regression based on the Generalized Least Squares (GLS) approach was used to analyze the impact of COVID-19 and other factors on the capital structure decision. Furthermore, the partial adjustment model with the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator was employed to measure the speed of adjustment toward target leverage. Findings/Result: We found COVID-19 had a significant impact on capital structure. Other factors that influenced the capital structure were the return on equity, current ratio, and growth. Finally, the healthcare companies in Indonesia readjusted their capital structure toward target leverage at a rapid rate. Managers of companies in the health sector can arrange considerations according to the order of funding sources, using internal funding sources first in the form of retained earnings, then debt, and if necessary, issuing equity. Conclusion: During a crisis, the effects experienced by different sectors exhibit variations. Consequently, conducting sector analysis research during a crisis becomes crucial in order to ascertain the precise impact of specific crises on particular sectors. Originality/value (State of the art): This research contributes to the existing literature on capital structure decision and speed of adjustment by adding the COVID-19 crisis dimension, especially when the industry play the important rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all areas of human life has been great. The prevailing disease also turned out to be a challenge for managers and the entire educational environment, which is the genesis of this article. Therefore, the aim of this article is to compare interest in the issue of improving managerial competences in the period before and after the Covid-19 pandemic and to draw conclusions in this area. Material and methods: The article contains a presentation of the results of research relating to the need to improve competences by the management staff of the organization before the pandemic (2018) and after its end (2022). The research covered middle-level managers and small business entrepreneurs. Results: The obtained results prove that it is necessary to constantly adapt to new market conditions and requirements, and new competences are indispensable in order to do so. Respondents see the need to improve the level of their knowledge, opting for forms that will not absorb them excessively (e.g. self-improvement). The respondents emphasize the need to know international issues and law, and the main inspiration for improving competences is the changeability of the company’s operating conditions and concern for its fate. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes that, especially in such circumstances, improving managerial competences is indispensable. Conclusions: The obtained results undoubtedly show significant changes that have taken place in the way of performing professional functions, including managerial ones and shaping the competencies of managers, but also the complexity of the analyzed phenomenon and the problems articulated in this area. The analysis carried out and its results constitute an important guideline for management practice, mainly in relation to people holding managerial positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitalization of the aesthetic experience influences the quality of participation in musical arts. Due to differences in perception among consumers of musical arts belonging to particular generations, this study aims to assess the influence of the participation form (in-person or digital) in the aesthetic situation. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the common digitalization of the aesthetic situation and catalyzed broad research on all art disciplines. Qualitative data analysis (based on ten criteria) constructed on an international sample concludes that the form in which one participates in musical arts determines the perception of quality in the aesthetic situation, which is assessed differently depending on one's generation. Significant determinants exist among generations in participation in musical arts and between particular forms of participation. The research results should interest musical arts creators, managers, marketers, recipients, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to entities responsible for qualifying healthcare professionals worldwide, needing adaptation to offer distance learning courses in the face of implications such as social distancing. However, despite these courses, there are still gaps in understanding their effects. Objective: To analyse the feeling of professional managers on the effects of a distance learning course, implemented for the development of public health competencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Qualitative research based on data collected from the virtual course environment, which included responses to a question posed to manager-professionals one month after completion: "Which tasks do you routinely perform that have undergone any modification due to your participation in the course?" Data analysis used Descending Hierarchical Classification with the aid of the IRAMUTEQ® software, focusing on Simple Segments of Text (SST). SSTs were classified based on their respective vocabularies of higher frequency and words with significant association (p<0.001). Finally, the software produced a dendrogram illustrating the hierarchical class scheme. Results: 256 responses were processed with a utilization rate of 76.3% of SSTs, resulting in a dendrogram with four classes, revealing modifications in (1) Execution of daily work tasks; (2) Expansion of knowledge about work in the Unified Health System; (3) Coordination between areas for the development of actions in Public Health; (4) Support and guidance for health surveillance actions in collaboration with municipalities. Final Considerations: The use of IRAMUTEQ® software eased the processing and analysis of a large amount of qualitative data, yielding findings that showed significant changes in the professional practice of managers and, so, a positive impact on the development of public health competencies even during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how bank funding diversity and lending affect bank performance, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. We employ the Generalized Method of Moments to analyze unbalanced panels of commercial banks in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The empirical results show that a percentage increase in bank funding diversity and bank lending in the sample negatively affects profitability. In contrast, the results are mixed in each country due to different market microstructures. While holding diversified funding strengthens bank profitability during the pandemic, increasing lending activities dampers the bank's performance. Finally, this research has important implications for bank managers and regulators to develop sustainable banking performance in emerging markets, especially during pandemics. Plain Language Summary: This paper investigates how bank funding diversity and lending affect bank performance, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. We employ the Generalized Method of Moments to analyze unbalanced panels of commercial banks in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The empirical results show that a percentage increase in bank funding diversity and bank lending in the sample negatively affects profitability. In contrast, the results are mixed in each country due to different market microstructures. While holding diversified funding strengthens bank profitability during the pandemic, increasing lending activities dampers the bank's performance. Finally, this research has important implications for bank managers and regulators to develop sustainable banking performance in emerging markets, especially during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the current state of play on Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) integration and check the validity of the current metrics system by assessing if it will survive the COVID-19 crisis. By adopting a qualitative research approach through semi-structured anonymous interviews with 14 senior managers of six European listed companies we use a framework by assessing the mechanisms of reactivity on the effectiveness of ESG measures in times of COVID-19. By interpreting the practitioners' points of view through the lens of the sociological framework by Espeland and Sauder (Am J Sociol 113:1–40, 2007) our findings show different mechanisms of reactivity by companies on the effectiveness of ESG measures in times of COVID-19, i.e., active and passive conformity and active resistance. We also identified the main Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) institutional factors that affect managers' reactivity. An extensive re-formulation of the ESG metrics is required in the light of times of crisis, given that accountability and transparency are strongly linked to quantitative measures which can play a critical role in the financial system and investors' engagement. Particularly, the strict distinction between "E", "S" and "G" issues should be abandoned claiming a different holistic re-design of sustainability measures by considering the increasing relevance of the Social dimension in time of COVID-19. This study provides a valuable contribution to the existing literature on the measurement of sustainability within the link of accountability and crisis by highlighting new corporate needs to re-design the ESG metrics system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care facilities are responsible for preventing and controlling diseases and must be resilient enough to deal with crises. The Iranian health care facilities have faced challenges in managing COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges faced by the Iranian health care facilities during the Covid-19 epidemic and to provide solutions. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with a phenomenological approach and using semi-structured interviews with 59 healthcare policy makers, managers, and employees, and medical university faculty members. The participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Overall, 43 challenges to the resilience of health care facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic were identified and grouped into 8 themes (i.e., leadership and management, planning, organizational culture, organizational learning, employee management, customer management, resource management, and process management. The most important resilience challenges were: fragmented management system; poor leadership; incompatible health network structure; lack of a national holistic plan; poor case detection; insufficient resources; inefficient information system; negative attitude of managers and employee; organizational inertia; failure to build on lessons learned from crises; low workforce preparedness; lack of community-based management; and improper monitoring and evaluation. Managers should use community-based, evidence-based, and integrated management to build health system resilience against COVID-19, have sufficient knowledge and experience to organize operations, use appropriate and effective coordination models, develop a creative and participatory culture, reengineer processes, and provide necessary resources. Conclusion: The Iranian health care facilities face challenges that prevent them from becoming resilient, responsive, and efficient in managing COVID-19. Policy makers and managers should increase the resilience of health care facilities to shocks and crises by using the suggested measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer relationship management (CRM) can be used to build relationships with customers and consistently acquire, retain, and create extra value for customers, even when a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic has occurred. The study's primary objective was to determine and understand the customer relationship management strategies of selected resorts in Cavite during the pandemic. A descriptivecorrelational research design was utilized in the study, and a purposive sampling technique was used in selecting targeted respondents. The researchers utilized a self-constructed survey questionnaire that 20 resort owners and managers answered in Dasmariñas City, General Trias City, Naic, and Tanza, Cavite. The result revealed that most of the respondents had operated their business for a long period of time, mostly as a sole proprietorship, and had a considerably small number of employees. The study found that the social media network was the most utilized customer relationship management strategy in the acquisition of potential customers. The marketing incentives were most used in retaining the customers. Lastly, most respondents utilized multiple channels supports to create extra value for customers. Considerably, there is no significant relationship between the business profile of the respondents and the perceived effectiveness of customer relationship management strategies except between the length of business operations and customer expansion. Despite the uncertainties brought by the pandemic to the hospitality and tourism industry, customer relationship management strategies aided the business sustainability of the resort businesses. In line with the existing new normal, this study recommended that resort firms should employ innovative strategies that are sensitive to customer trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach: This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings: Automation of business operations can help companies overcome significant challenges like those presented by the Covid-19 global pandemic. Using artificial intelligence (AI) leads to valuable improvements to speed and efficiency in many key functions. Favorable outcomes are likelier when managers are positive towards technology and this can be helped through such as provision of top leadership support and a favorable workplace environment. Originality/value: The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed severe threats to human safety in the healthcare sector, particularly in residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aims to draw on cumulative prospect theory (CPT) to develop a decision model to explore LTCF administrators' risk perceptions and management decisions toward this pandemic. This study employed the policy Delphi method and survey data to examine managers' perceptions and attitudes and explore the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on healthcare decisions. The findings show that participants exhibited risk aversion for small losses but became risk-neutral when considering devastating damages. LTCF managers exhibited perception bias that led to over- and under-estimation of the occurrence of infection risk. The contextual determinants, including LTCF type, scale, and strategy, simultaneously affect leaders' risk perception toward consequences and probabilities. Specifically, cost-leadership facilities behave in a loss-averse way, whereas hybrid-strategy LTCFs appear biased in measuring probabilities. This study is the first research that proposes a CPT model to predict administrators' risk perception under varying mixed gain–loss circumstances involving considerations of healthcare and society in the pandemic context. This study extends the application of CPT into organizational-level decisions. The results highlight that managers counteract their perception bias and subjective estimation to avoid inappropriate decisions in healthcare operations and risk governance for a future health emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced a process of digital acceleration and has likely changed the attitudes of local public managers toward information and communication technology (ICT). While this attitude change has been reasonably argued, it has not been systematically measured. This study narrows this gap by measuring the attitudes of public managers before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, this study finds that the pandemic has led public managers to be more confident in the capacity of ICT to help cities achieve their economic, social, and environmental goals and respond to challenges. Both explicit and implicit measures confirmed attitude changes. The explicit measures also indicated that the change in public managers' attitude toward ICT was similar to their change in attitude toward scientific progress and greater than their change in attitude toward other issues that have played a major role during the pandemic, namely, climate change, citizen participation, and privacy. • The pandemic has led public managers to be more confident in the capacity of ICT to help cities. • Both explicit and implicit measures confirmed attitude change. • Changes in attitude toward ICT and scientific progress were similar. • The change in attitude toward ICT was greater than the ones toward climate change, citizen participation, and privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]