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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to answer the questions: were there, in the opinion of employees, unfavourable changes or difficulties in the entities in which they are employed in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, in what areas of the functioning of the enterprises did they occur, did the management staff take appropriate actions in connection with this, what actions were taken? Design/methodology/approach: In addition to the review of literature on the subject of enterprise crisis and pandemic, the article also presents the results of own empirical research. Findings: As a result of the conducted research, it was found that 60.5% of respondents noticed unfavourable changes or difficulties resulting from the external crisis such as the pandemic. Respondents considered that they were most noticed in the sphere of the company’s functioning in the field of personnel management. The next areas were: supply, production, the process of communication between employees and the weakening of the company’s/organization’s relations with business partners, as well as marketing. 33.5% of surveyed employees reported that the management staff showed activity in such a difficult, crisis reality as the pandemic. The actions taken in this area were shown. Research limitations/implications: The selection of the research sample was not probabilistic, but care was taken to ensure a high diversity of respondents, both in terms of the characteristics of the economic entities surveyed and the respondents themselves. Practical implications: Recommendations for managers facing major changes, as was the case with the pandemic, a specific example of an external crisis. Social implications: Showing that in the face of an external crisis such as the pandemic, the integration of intra-organizational activities and building relationships with the company’s environment can significantly mitigate unfavourable phenomena. Originality/value: A comprehensive look not only at the need for a thorough analysis of the causes and conditions of crises in the enterprise but also an indication of taking systematic corrective actions with particular consideration of aspects related to the area of human resources management. Showing that cooperation between the enterprise and its environment based on values can contribute to the creation of a good of a general social nature, also in crisis situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the situation of enterprises in Poland. For this purpose, the results of the CSO surveys were used (the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic situation), conducted from April 2020 to December 2021. The results of the research indicate a clear differentiation of the situation among enterprises in the analysed period. The problems caused by the pandemic were particularly pronounced among service companies in the accommodation and catering sector, retailers in the textile, clothing and footwear sector, and in the specialist construction sector companies. Moreover, in most cases, within a given problem caused by the pandemic, it was the smaller enterprises that indicated the existence of threats more often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A qualitative approach based on grounded theory was utilized, with data collected through 26 semi-structured interviews with social entrepreneurs. Alas's Triangular Model provided the framework for data analysis and interpretation. Design/methodology/approach: This study explores how Hong Kong social enterprises approached crisis and change management during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining their resilience-building strategies. Findings: The pandemic triggered an existential crisis for many social enterprises, causing severe revenue losses. However, strong leadership and cultures based on social mission enabled resilience. Enterprises demonstrated agility by rapidly transitioning operations online and establishing partnerships. Technology adaptation and social innovation were pivotal to sustaining impact. Research limitations/implications: As the sample comprises enterprises that survived the pandemic, insights into failed enterprises are lacking. Comparative analysis could illuminate differences in crisis response between successful and unsuccessful cases. Practical implications: The study's practical implications suggest that social enterprises should focus on developing flexible crisis management plans, cultivating purposeful leadership, embracing digital transformation, strengthening collaborative networks and prioritizing organizational learning to effectively navigate crises while staying true to their social missions. Social implications: Findings demonstrate how shared values and cultures grounded in purpose can anchor organizations amidst upheaval, fostering resilience. This underscores the role of social enterprises in modeling responsiveness to societal needs. Originality/value: While research has examined social enterprises' vulnerability in crises, investigation into their crisis management practices is limited. This study enriches understanding of how social enterprises effectively navigate turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper has a dual purpose. The first is to provide a thorough analysis of developments in international marketing in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; the second is to capitalize on these developments to set an agenda for future research in the field of international marketing. Design/methodology/approach: This paper zooms in on and reviews the 18 papers published in International Marketing Review's (IMR) Special Issue on "Covid 19: advancing international marketing theory and guiding practice" (2023, volume 40, issue 5). It also integrates recent research at the intersection of international marketing and the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: The paper highlights five areas that embody significant contemporaneous changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and affect international marketing practice. These include (1) shifts in consumer behavior, (2) digitalization and artificial intelligence, (3) disruptions in supply chains, (4) communication and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and (5) international dynamic marketing capabilities. In order to advance international marketing theory in relation to pandemics and other external crises, the paper establishes research directions for each of these areas. Originality/value: The paper provides a novel and comprehensive categorization of fundamental shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and lays out a research roadmap to advance research in the field of International Marketing (IM). Important implications for practice are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze the effectiveness of financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provided by the Poviat Labour Offices (PUPs) in the Silesian Voivodeship under the Polish government's Anti-Crisis Shield during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs secondary data analysis, collecting and processing existing data from all 32 Poviat Labour Offices in the Silesian Voivodeship. The research involved statistical analysis of the types, amounts, and success rates of the financial support measures to evaluate their effectiveness. Findings: The findings indicate that the Anti-Crisis Shield significantly helped SMEs in the Silesian Voivodeship to sustain their operations and retain jobs. The majority of applications for support were processed efficiently, with a high percentage of approvals. The most common type of aid was one-off loans for covering ongoing business costs, reflecting the immediate need for liquidity among businesses. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited to the Silesian Voivodeship and may not fully represent the effectiveness of the Anti-Crisis Shield in other regions. Future research could expand to other voivodeships to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the program. Practical implications: The results of this study can inform policymakers and public administrators on the critical factors that contribute to the successful distribution of emergency financial aid. It underscores the importance of efficient administrative processes and the need for clear communication channels between public institutions and SMEs. These insights can help improve the design and implementation of similar support programs in future economic crises. Social implications: The research highlights the critical role of government intervention in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMEs. Effective distribution of financial aid helped stabilize the local economy and protected jobs, contributing to social and economic resilience during the crisis. Originality/value: This article provides valuable insights into the practical implementation and outcomes of the Anti-Crisis Shield, emphasizing the collaboration between public institutions and SMEs. It serves as a case study for policymakers and business support organizations to develop strategies for future economic crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this article is to explore the determinants of export resilience, considering the interactions of firm capabilities with prior export commitment and environmental hostility. Research Design & Methods: We integrated insights from the organisational capabilities perspective, internationalisation process theory, and literature on environmental hostility to create a conceptual framework exploring how and under which boundary conditions firm capabilities drive export resilience. We proposed that this relationship is moderated by prior export commitment and environmental hostility. We tested the propositions on a sample of 500 Polish exporters in a COVID-19 environment. Findings: We found empirical support for the positive interaction of firm capabilities with environmental hostility on export resilience. Implications & Recommendations: Among others, we observed that firms facing higher environmental hostility must rely on their capabilities to a larger extent, leading to increased export resilience in terms of maintaining or expanding export operations and building up export-specific capabilities. Contribution & Value Added: While economic crises have reinforced interest in organisational resilience, less attention has been paid to the resilience of exporting under crisis conditions. Export resilience has preferably been addressed from the point of view of its continuity or survival, rather than accounting for a more proactive view of the firms' approach to exports under conditions of environmental hostility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines foreign direct investment (FDI)-growth and trade-growth relationships in Bangladesh during three major crises: the economic crisis of 2007–2008, the commodity crisis of 2016, and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020. The augmented autoregressive distributed lag (AARDL) bounds testing approach and Bayer and Hanck cointegration are employed on time-series data spanning the period 1974–2020. The results suggest that exports have positive effects on economic growth, while imports have insignificant effects in both the short run and long run. Total trade (the sum of exports and imports) has a positive but weakly significant effect on economic growth only in the long run, whereas FDI exhibits a positive effect in both the short run and long run. Although the crises are not found to affect economic growth directly or through trade (i.e., no dampening effect on trade-led growth), they are found to distort FDI-led growth in both the short run and long run. As robustness tests for long-run elasticities, the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) cointegration techniques are implemented, yielding results similar to those obtained with the AARDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines foreign direct investment (FDI)-growth and trade-growth relationships in Bangladesh during three major crises: the economic crisis of 2007–2008, the commodity crisis of 2016, and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020. The augmented autoregressive distributed lag (AARDL) bounds testing approach and Bayer and Hanck cointegration are employed on time-series data spanning the period 1974–2020. The results suggest that exports have positive effects on economic growth, while imports have insignificant effects in both the short run and long run. Total trade (the sum of exports and imports) has a positive but weakly significant effect on economic growth only in the long run, whereas FDI exhibits a positive effect in both the short run and long run. Although the crises are not found to affect economic growth directly or through trade (i.e., no dampening effect on trade-led growth), they are found to distort FDI-led growth in both the short run and long run. As robustness tests for long-run elasticities, the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) cointegration techniques are implemented, yielding results similar to those obtained with the AARDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The article aims to investigate the impact of anti-crisis activities undertaken by the Polish exporting firms on their export sales during the Covid-19 pandemic. Research Design & Methods: In our study, we used a quantitative research design. We conducted the survey on the sample of 161 manufacturing Polish exporting firms between April 21 and June 25, 2021. To verify the assumed relationships, we used the probit regression model. Findings: We found that some firm key features, such as firm size, the territorial scope of international activity, the share of foreign ownership in assets, the degree of innovation, and the presence of a market diversification strategy significantly impacted export sales during the pandemic. The results also suggest that a temporary reduction in employment, the sale of new/adapted products, and the search for new foreign export partners strongly supported the sales growth of Polish exporters during the Covid-19 pandemic. Implications & Recommendations: This study can be valuable for researchers, managers, and policymakers. First, we highlight activities that promote export/sales during the pandemic period, which can be helpful for both researchers and policymakers in creating support tools for exporters. Second, managers may gain valuable lessons on the importance of having an internationalisation strategy and marketing strategies in place during demand and supply shocks. Contribution & Value Added: The main novelty is a firm-level analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic impact on exporting firms from the perspective of the anti-crisis activities they undertook, which fills a gap in the literature and informs discussions of the potential impact of Covid-19 on export performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between government support, through technical assistance or subsidies, for adoption of digital technologies and the introduction of new or improved products or services by firms. By applying Probit regression to data provided in World Bank Enterprise Surveys covering the period in late 2020 to early 2021 for three lower-middle-income and high-income economies, we find that governmental support for adoption of digital technologies raised the probability of an enterprise's innovation in those economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Studies - Economics, Finance, Politics is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The research empirically examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) integrated with social customer relationship management (SCRM) in multinational enterprises (MNEs) towards international relationship management under social distancing conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The study initially undertakes pertinently focused theoretical research in the fields of international marketing, knowledge management, and customer relationship management. And, utilizing the theories of resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability view (DCV) theory, the study develops a theoretical model that is subsequently empirically validated through a survey and structural equation modeling. Findings: The study highlights the importance and means of adopting AI-integrated social CRM by MNEs, in the context of international relationship management, under the Covid-19 social distancing conditions. The study more specifically elucidates the role and significance of MNE leadership approach and support towards the adoption of AI-integrated social CRM systems and, ultimately, performance improvement of MNEs under such conditions. Research limitations/implications: The study presents insights and prescriptive explications on a topic at the heart of state-of the-art technology-based international marketing in the explicit context of the primary business-defining environment of the Covid-19 pandemic. The research provides practicable suggestions to MNEs' leadership towards the adoption of an AI-integrated social CRM system. And the study presents a unique model for international relationship management under social distancing conditions, potentially applicable during other crises. Originality/value: The research is original and on a 'fresh' topic that combines the latest technological advancements in business (AI-integrated CRM) with the present critical business context (pandemic). The research develops a tested theoretical model that (a) is unique in its field; (b) provides a solid foundation for further research; (c) bears generic value and application during other-than-Covid-19 conditions; and (d) enhances the understanding of important fields of international marketing, including international customer relationship management and global knowledge management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterprise resilience captures enterprises' ability to survive and develop under uncertainties and shocks. Taking the shock of COVID-19 as an example, this paper employs a unique firm-level national survey dataset collected from a sample of nearly 40,000 Chinese private enterprises in 2020 to systematically explore the relation between local business environment and enterprise resilience. Our estimation results using ordered probit model indicate that favorable business environment can significantly enhance enterprise resilience and mitigate the shock of COVID-19 on firm performance. Mechanism analysis further shows that enterprises under better business environment generally have greater resilience as the result of timely and effective government support, reliable supply of production factors and logistics service, and lower levels of financial constraints. Our study deepens the understanding of the economic consequences of business environment and also sheds a new light on enterprise resilience enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic situation, many enterprises have fallen into financial crisis. In order to explore the causes of enterprise financial risk and the conduction path of risk sources, this paper starts from the theory, characteristics, and path of financial risk conduction, combines Hall three-dimensional structure and system dynamics models, establishes the path of enterprise financial risk conduction (causality graph), and combines the value-at-risk VaR model to measure the risk. Based on this methodology, a three-dimensional multiple risk interaction and dynamic–static combination of an enterprise financial risk conduction model is established, aiming at identifying the sources of financial risk in different periods and providing timely risk control countermeasures to avoid financial crises. This paper does not refine some of the indicators and takes into account the probability of different scenarios and/or the number of trigger strategies to avoid or reduce risk. In the future, refining the indicators to include considerations such as production technology will enable a more robust model of corporate financial risk conduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution gains momentum and involves a plethora of disruptive technology concepts, such as blockchain, they have infiltrated economies that have only experienced a small portion of their scope, consequences, and applications in their different branches. This research aims to examine the potential uses of blockchain technology within the framework of smart contracts in the insurance sector, notably in the event of a pandemic that results in business interruption. Businesses hardly ever take business interruption insurance into account, particularly in a country similar to Lebanon, where natural disasters and pandemics are scarce. Due to the complexity of the task and the numerous requirements for trust in terms of risk consistency, traditional insurance companies are not interested in offering these kinds of insurance contracts. In this current study, a quantitative study was conducted over 213 businesses in various fields and revealed acceptance and socio-demographic differences in the activity sectors of this potentially ground-breaking solution for a developing country that is undergoing a sanitary and economic crisis. As a result, smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) were proposed in the current research as potential solutions to overcome the Lebanese currency devaluation and high insurance costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/background: The public health crisis, which was the Covid-19 pandemic, made it necessary to introduce changes in the HRM (human resource management) process in almost all organizations and industries. One of the industries that felt the negative effects of the crisis in a very severe way was the catering industry. Both owners of catering enterprises as well as employees in the industry had to face the challenges posed by an unexpected crisis situation. Aim of the paper: The main aim of this paper was to identify human resource management challenges and activities in the catering industry in times of Covid-19 pandemic in Poland. Materials and methods: The work uses source material in the form of literature on the subject of the crisis, as well as available reports and studies that were created during and immediately after the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Primary research was carried out on the basis of a survey method. The questionnaire was distributed among the owners or managers of catering enterprises, as well as to industry’s employees. Results and conclusions: The pandemic was an unexpected phenomenon, and its effects left a significant mark on the processes related to human resource management. The catering industry turned out to be one of the most sensitive to such crises, which meant that many current employees decided to change their profession, and the owners and managers understood the need to both diversify activities and services provided, as well as the need to introduce changes in areas directly related to human resources management. The pandemic also increased awareness of the role and the importance of qualified, competent, motivated and committed staff in overcoming crises and achieving the success of the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study is to identify the response of restaurants to COVID-19. Findings were derived from a qualitative approach by conducting thirty-nine interviews at the managerial level of thirty-five independent restaurants in Cairo. During March and April 2020, open-ended interviews were performed, and then analyzed using NVivo 9.0 software. This study successfully documents the decisions and activities related to four aspects (leadership practices, managing stakeholders' cooperation, operational procedures, and marketing the reputation) used in adapting restaurants in response to COVID-19. It also identifies the barriers to applying the mitigation measures. Though this paper concentrates on Cairo restaurants, the value of this paper lies in being the first managerial-level analytical study documenting the responses to COVID-19 in the restaurant industry. It strengthens the existing literature by highlighting COVID-19's impact on the restaurant industry and introducing a holistic view of decisions and the actual pandemic' adopted responses, faced difficulties, and recovery practices within the restaurant industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Social Security Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Erdkunde is the property of Universitaet Bonn, Geographisches Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Social entrepreneurs are catalysts for social change on account of social value creation and opportunity identification, thereby improving the quality of life. Their contribution to society is particularly significant in times of crises and pandemics. Hence, the world health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for social entrepreneurship across the globe. Despite social entrepreneurship's relevance in social value creation, the studies regarding opportunity identification in times of social distancing are particularly rare. This constructivist-qualitative research fills the gap by employing the EDraw Mind Map tool to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic in general, and social distancing in particular, have shaped entrepreneurial opportunities for social innovation. The findings from content analysis reveal that ICT-based services and industry 4.0 hold a promising future during and post-COVID-19 scenario. They can facilitate a transformation of the threats of social distancing into distant socialization benefits and demand fulfillment. Furthermore, the study contributes to providing a comprehensive depiction of the myriad of opportunities created by social entrepreneurs worldwide. It also guides aspiring social entrepreneurs to adopt such technologies and aim for social integration to ensure quality mental health, education, employment, and manufacturing services in low-resource and developing countries' contexts, as they are severely impacted by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors hypothesize that the performance of tourism entities depends on the number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of tourism entities in the regions of Ukraine. Econometric methods of correlation-regression analysis were used to solve the research problems, determining the quantitative patterns and relationships between «number of tourism entities», «number of tourist packages sold», «cost of tourist packages sold», «number of tourist nights included in tourist packages», «number of tourists served» and «number of deaths from COVID-19». Statistics for 24 regions of Ukraine were used for modeling, with the division of tourism entities into two groups: legal entities and natural entities-entrepreneurs. Paired linear regression equations are constructed. The following indicators were determined to check the quality of the constructed econometric models: correlation coefficient, random error value, elasticity coefficient, and determination coefficient. The Student’s t-test was calculated to assess the statistical significance of the correlation coefficient, and Fisher’s F-test was calculated to test the value of the regression model. There is a decrease in all analyzed financial and economic indicators of tourism entities in all regions of Ukraine in 2020. Important and high negative relationship between all the analyzed financial and economic indicators of the work of tourism entities and the number of deaths from COVID-19 was found. The results of the empirical assessment of the impact and modeling of the epidemic’s effects on the tourism industry will help public authorities and tourism entities develop strategic actions to build capacity and ensure the financial and economic sustainability of the tourist services market in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic, which engulfed humanity in early 2020, is developing extremely dynamically, spreading horizontally and affecting a number of sectors besides health - economic, financial, social, environmental. Its effect on modern economies is perceived as unprecedented. It is causing a health and socioeconomic crisis of an unprecedented nature, of unclear and unpredictable duration. The state's anti-crisis measures, including physical distance, vaccination, testing, availability of green certificates, etc. have a strong macroeconomic and microeconomic effect. It affects different sectors to varying degrees and strengths. The bio-sector has not been spared the problems caused by the pandemic. He was forced to make innovative changes in his practices in order to survive. The purpose of this report is to present the results of a survey of bio-sector enterprises on their innovation performance in the context of the COVID-19 emergency and to summarize the changes in their business practices that will have a lasting effect on their activities, as well as to present the factors that influenced this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe restrictions on the operation of logistics chains for the supply of raw materials, equipment needed for the smooth and efficient operation of agricultural enterprises and difficulties in the sale of agricultural products caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threaten the economic stability of these entities and could lead to their bankruptcy. In this regard, it is important to systematically monitor the actual financial and economic results of agricultural enterprises, their forecasting, and taking into account the negative impact of environmental factors and the adaptation of production processes to new realities. At the same time, in the context of the frequent absence of the full amount of information necessary for making managerial decisions, this forecast should compensate for its insufficiency by imitating vectors of possible options for the functioning of agricultural enterprises. Given the above, the purpose of the study is to develop a simulation economic and mathematical model for assessing the financial risk of bankruptcy of agricultural enterprises. In the course of the study, simulation modeling was used - to develop a model for assessing the financial risk of bankruptcy of agricultural enterprises and predicting the financial condition of business entities, taking into account the action of external environmental factors; abstract-logical method - for the implementation of theoretical generalizations to determine the algorithm for constructing a simulation economic and mathematical matrix for assessing the financial risk of bankruptcy of agricultural enterprises; and graphic method - for a visual representation of the architectonics of the process of economic and mathematical modeling of the probability of bankruptcy of agricultural enterprises. In the article, an algorithm for calculating a simulation model adapted to the rapidly changing conditions of the environment of agricultural enterprises is developed. The proposed simulation model helps to obtain realistic results of assessing the financial risk of bankruptcy of agricultural enterprises due to its adaptive properties, which take into account the dynamics of future changes in financial performance of economic entities. In addition, the repeated implementation of simulation replications fully compensates for the lack of full information needed to make management decisions. In this regard, the study substantiates the advantages of using simulation as one of the most promising and accurate tools for constructing an average vector for forecasting the development of agricultural enterprises, which, in turn, will objectively assess the likelihood of their bankruptcy in the future. The practical significance of this model is to enable managers to prevent in advance the onset of crises in agricultural enterprises in future periods of time and to quickly develop appropriate measures to respond to the projected results of this modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]