Receptivity of Governmental Communication and Its Effectiveness During COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study

Publicity governance in contingency management during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: A "Government-Society" perspective

BACKGROUND

Publicity is a common form of governance in government and is even more important in contingency management, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Publicity has two sides, the main body of publicity is led by the government, the object of publicity is the response to the public. So, publicity exists in the "government-society" field. Our aim was to find out how governments have been able to achieve effective publicity in the COVID-19 and to promote the active participation of society in governance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We adopted a case study approach. Taking Chongqing Municipality as an example, we collected 201 messages from five forms of publicity, including cell phone SMS, village (community) broadcast, publicity placards or banners, official websites, and government media platforms during the period of 2020-2021, and described and analyzed the publicity content of different forms of publicity.

RESULTS

During the whole period of the COVID-19, the publicity governance under contingency management showed the characteristics of focusing on administrative efficiency, social efficiency and post-social efficiency, and showed specific publicity governance functions such as mobilization and control, education and clarification, cultivation of public consciousness and shaping government credibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Publicity governance in contingency management during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes three effective approaches: time synchronization, organizational scale, and interaction among multiple advocacy agents. This can extend the existing government-centered research to the level of interaction between the government and society, and help the government to better use effective publicity to achieve the governance task under contingency management.

Prescriptive Analytics-Based SIRM Model for Predicting Covid-19 Outbreak

Predicting the outbreak of a pandemic is an important measure in order to help saving people lives threatened by Covid-19. Having information about the possible spread of the pandemic, authorities and people can make better decisions. For example, such analyses help developing better strategies for distributing vaccines and medicines. This paper has modified the original Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model to Susceptible-Immune-Infected-Recovered (SIRM) which includes the Immunity ratio as a parameter to enhance the prediction of the pandemic. SIR is a widely used model to predict the spread of a pandemic. Many types of pandemics imply many variants of the SIR models which make it very difficult to find out the best model that matches the running pandemic. The simulation of this paper used the published data about the spread of the pandemic in order to examine our new SIRM. The results showed clearly that our new SIRM covering the aspects of vaccine and medicine is an appropriate model to predict the behavior of the pandemic.

Modeling a COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India

COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have been launched across the globe to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 disease. However, COVID-19 vaccination campaigns (Vaccination campaigns are the complete process of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns beyond just administrating vaccines.) are a complex multi-stakeholder process, and therefore, it is important to understand the key components and drivers of vaccination campaigns to help devise strategies to increase vaccination coverage for existing and future vaccination efforts. A system dynamics modeling approach was used to trace the vaccination campaign for the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The results identified the key stakeholders of the vaccination campaign and their inter-linkages, and the diverse perspectives of stakeholders of vaccination campaigns in Madhya Pradesh were collated in a structured format. Further, system dynamics models were developed to capture all aspects of the vaccination campaign in Madhya Pradesh, including the challenges and innovations. The outcomes of the study can assist academicians, practitioners, and policymakers develop vaccination programs at sub-national, national, and global levels. They will guide decision-makers to take preemptive measures to mitigate possible risks and challenges and provide improved services as part of vaccination campaigns.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40171-022-00326-9.

Developing an evidence-based TISM: an application for the success of COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

The study illustrates an application of evidence data for performing Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM). TISM is widely used to analyze the critical success factors or inhibitors and their interlinkages. This study uses learning from evidence data, specifically social media analytics, to identify the relationship between the elements. Thus, it leads to the advancement of the TISM-P methodology with evidence-based TISM (TISM-E). This study uses Twitter as a source of evidence data. Further, 2,60,297 tweets were used to illustrate the process of TISM-E. The paper demonstrates the application of TISM-E for the success of the COVID-19 vaccination drive. The pandemic effects are long-term; therefore, the hierarchical model developed shows a sustainable approach for vaccinating maximum population. Further, the framework developed will ensure the distribution efficacy of vaccines. In addition, it will aid practitioners in developing future vaccination policies. The enhanced model provides evidence for polarity (positive/negative) of relationships and can help to build propositions for theory development. The study contributes to healthcare, modeling research, and graph-theoretic literature.

Uneven stigma loads: Community interpretations of public health policies, 'evidence' and inequities in shaping Covid-19 stigma in Vietnam

The infectious spread of COVID-19 has been accompanied by stigma in both global and local contexts, sparking concern about its negative effect on individuals, communities, and public health responses. The changing epidemiological context of the COVID-19 epidemic and evolving public health responses during the first year of the pandemic (2020) in Vietnam serve as a case study to qualitatively explore the fluidity of stigma. We conducted in-depth interviews with 38 individuals, (13 cases, 9 close contacts, and 16 community members) from areas affected by local outbreaks. Thematic analysis was conducted iteratively. Our analysis indicates that the extent and impacts of COVID-19-related stigma were uneven. Adapting the clinical term 'viral load' as a metaphor, we describe this variation through the wide range of 'stigma load' noted in participants' experiences. Individuals encountering more acute stigma, i.e. the highest 'stigma load', were those associated with COVID-19 at the start of the local outbreaks. These intensively negative social responses were driven by a social meaning-making process that misappropriated an inaccurate understanding of epidemiological logic. Specifically, contact tracing was presumed within the public consciousness to indicate linear blame, with individuals falsely considered to have engaged in 'transgressive mobility', with onward transmission perceived as being intentional. In contrast, as case numbers grew within an outbreak the imagined linearity of the infection chain was disrupted and lower levels of stigma were experienced, with COVID-19 transmission and association reframed as reflecting an environmental rather than behavioural risk. Our findings demonstrate the role of public health policies in unintentionally creating conditions for stigma to flourish. However, this is fluid. The social perceptions of infection risk shifted from being individualised to environmental, suggesting that stigma can be modified and mitigated through attending to the productive social lives of public health approaches and policies.

Exploring Influence of Communication Campaigns in Promoting Regenerative Farming Through Diminishing Farmers' Resistance to Innovation: An Innovation Resistance Theory Perspective From Global South

Climate change and farming malpractices (e.g., harmful pesticides use) are harmful to the globe's productive soil and biodiversity, thereby posing a hazard to the survival of future generations. Innovative technologies provide continuous smart conservation solutions, such as regenerative farming, to confront the ongoing climate crisis and maintain biodiversity. Albeit, regenerative farming has the potential to conserve climate change by upgrading the soil's organic materials and reinstating biodiversity leading to carbon attenuation. However, a critical problem remains concerning adapting conservation farming practices that can assist low-income farmers. In this scenario, theoretical-driven communication campaigns are critical for addressing individuals' resistance to innovation. Thereby, this research uncovers the moderating influence of the numerous communication tools in determining the adoption of regenerative farming through diminishing farmers' resistance to innovation. The study employed a cross-sectional design vis-à-vis a survey method. A sample of 863 farmers participated by responding to the self-administrated questionnaire. In line with prior theories, the study's results identified that communication campaigns such as public service advertisements and informative scientific documentaries could reduce the resistance to innovation that increases the attitude toward the adoption of regenerative farming with varied intensity. Besides, informational support also remained a significant contributor in determining the intention to adopt regenerative farming. This specifies that implanting habits of conservation farming requires the initiation of communication campaigns using different media content. These results may be advantageous for policymakers to influence farmers' intentions to adopt regenerative farming.

Lean Entrepreneurship and SME Practice in a Post COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Conceptual Discourse from Nigeria

This study investigates lean principles among Nigerian entrepreneurs and SME managers in the operational process in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. It offers the panacea to the challenge of social-economic shocks and their adverse effects on SMEs' business activities in Nigeria. The study adopts a conceptual approach to investigate lean entrepreneurship practice by SMEs in Nigeria. It relies on data from extant literature, using a conceptual approach to examine the social-economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic and critical environmental factors on the lean entrepreneurship practice in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of lean practice among SMEs and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and suggests a broad model for lean entrepreneurial practice in post-COVID-19 pandemic Nigeria. Findings highlight the broad social-economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges such as theft, host community pressure, weak legal system, and inadequate government policy support affect lean entrepreneurship practice. These factors constitute complex operational issues that would require the adoption of a more comprehensive approach to address. It also highlights crucial factors for post-COVID-19 pandemic SMEs' operational success in Nigeria due to deficits in infrastructure and regulatory efficiency for SMEs' operations to address the various challenges of business failures in Nigeria. The study suggests a lean SME and Entrepreneurial Practice model in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. It emphasises the need to refocus the active interest of the lean entrepreneur on critical business sustainability. The study recommends a critical review of the internal operational process among practicing entrepreneurial businesses and a re-modification of public policies system that governs the operational functions of entrepreneurial practices for reasonable and resilient post-COVID-19 pandemic entrepreneurship practices that can support the SMEs and economic growth in Nigeria.

Factors Associated with Community Awareness on COVID-19 in a Developing Country: Implications for Optimal Risk Communication

Purpose

New COVID-19 variants pose great challenges in protecting the success of vaccination programs. Awareness of community becomes an important component to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to analyze people's awareness of COVID-19 and identify the implications for optimal risk communication in Vietnam.

Study Methods and Materials

A total of 341 individuals participated in an online cross-sectional study. Community awareness on COVID-19 was examined by using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable Tobit regression was used to examine associated factors with community awareness.

Results

Our results indicated high levels of awareness of local COVID-19 situation, transmission risks, and preventive behavioral practices during the first week of social isolation. Higher awareness of local pandemic situation was associated with female respondents (Coef.: 6.19; 95% CI: 0.51; 11.87) and larger family sizes of above 5 people (Coef.: 9.00; -1.00; 19.00). Respondents between 35-44 years old were shown to be less aware of preventive behavioral practices than other age groups, including the group of participants above 44 years old (Coef.: -0.34; 95% CI: -0.67; -0.02). Lastly, participants who were "fairly satisfied" with information resources had awareness levels of preventive behavioral practices lower than that of "unsatisfied" respondents (Coef.: -0.45; 95% CI: 0.74; -0.16).

Conclusion

This study offers crucial insights into the pandemic awareness of citizens and risk communication effectiveness during COVID-19 in Vietnam. The study findings shall serve the development of policies and interventions aimed at empowering individuals in the local and global fight against coronavirus.

The Mechanisms of Collective Resilience in a Crisis Context: The Case of The 'COVID-19' Crisis

In this research, we claim to join the efforts of practitioners and researchers to provide managerial responses to an unprecedented health crisis such as COVID-19. To do this, we study the concept of 'collective resilience' as a mechanism for responding to crisis in the Tunisian context. The aim of this research is to explain the impact of collective resilience processes on the ability of organizations to withstand crisis. We conducted sixteen semi-structured interviews with Tunisian companies that had experienced the COVID-19 crisis. Continuous analysis of these interviews was carried out with the Nvivo12 software. Our results showed a positive effect of collective resilience on the capacity of organizations to resist the COVID-19 crisis by developing protective factors. These are manifested by new intersubjective interactions (massive exchanges, shared representation, collective consciousness, collaboration, solidarity, mutual aid, etc.), generic interactions (actions and assembly rules not used before: less formalized rules and procedures, more flexible and decentralized structure, new organizational diagrams based on trust, accountability, etc.) and finally the improvisation and tinkering of the organization which made it possible to bring about a change affecting all levels of the organization: strategic and organizational.

Building on Vietnam’s Recent COVID-19 Success: A Job-Focused Analysis of Individual Assessments on Their Finance and the Economy

Despite the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on income and employment loss around the globe, hardly any formal study exists on household finance and future economic expectations in poorer countries. We offer an early study that aims to fill this gap from the labor market angle. We implemented and analyzed a new web-based rapid assessment survey immediately after the removal of lockdown measures in Vietnam, a low-middle income country that has received widespread recognition for its successful fight against the pandemic. We find that having a job is strongly and positively associated with better finance and more income and savings, as well as more optimism about the resilience of the economy. Further disaggregating employment along the security dimension into different types of jobs such as self-employment and jobs with permanent and short-term contracts, we find those with permanent job contracts to have fewer job worries and better assessments for the economy. Individuals with good health tend to have more positive evaluations for their current and future finance, but there is mixed evidence for those with higher educational levels. These findings are relevant for the ongoing fight against the pandemic and post-outbreak labor policies, especially in a developing country context.

The Effect of Traceability System and Managerial Initiative on Indonesian Food Cold Chain Performance: A Covid-19 Pandemic Perspective

This study aims to determine the effect of managerial initiatives on the adoption of traceability systems on food cold chain performance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Managerial initiatives are allegedly needed to improve the company's performance because it improves the traceability system in the supply chain. In addition, the effect of the traceability system adoption on the Indonesian food cold-chain performance during the Covid-19 pandemic is also discussed in this study. This study uses a quantitative approach and purposive sampling with a questionnaire research instrument obtained 250 statements of Indonesian consumers and retail employees. Partial least squares for structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze latent variables' relationships. This study indicates that the traceability system has a significant effect on the performance of the food cold-chain during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the adoption of electronic data exchange (EDI), radio frequency identification (RFID), and blockchain significantly impacted traceability systems during the Covid-19 pandemic. The managerial application of the initiative showed a positive and significant impact on the performance of the food cold-chain during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the managerial initiative is not able to moderate the adoption of the traceability system.

Individual Resilience in the Organization in the Face of Crisis: Study of the Concept in the Context of COVID-19

In the context of a health crisis of unprecedented magnitude that we have experienced such as COVID-19 we join the efforts of practitioners and researchers to answer the question: 'What is the organizational context that promotes individual adaptation in a context of adversity?'. Specifically, our research aims to explore organizational practices that promote individual resilience in a COVID-19 crisis situation and in a Tunisian context. Therefore, we believe that the paradigm (resilience in the face of the COVID-19 crisis) and the context (Tunisian) both constitute the originality of our article. Our research contribution consists in demonstrating that the company has a managerial need to strengthen the psychological protective factors of its employees, which will promote their individual resilience in the organization. This necessarily leads it to develop the individual's defense mechanisms against trauma, psychological reconstruction and post-resilience learning. This modeling of resilience allowed us to observe and recognize it in sixteen Tunisian companies by using a qualitative study based on sixteen semi-structured interviews analyzed by the 'Nvivo 12' software in order to explore the functioning of individual resilience in a real organizational context.

Considerations Regarding Donation and Value Co-Creation in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper examines the phenomenon of strategic donation (including fundraising and intention to donate) through the lens of value co-creation before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 in non-profit organizations (NPOs). The methodology was based on interviews and statistical analyses of online data. The qualitative results demonstrated that within NPOs, neither the marketing strategy nor the fundraising has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. NPOs employ a variety of strategies, including value co-creation activities (events), which is a key element in influencing engagement and donation. The quantitative findings showed that "dialogue" is the most frequent of the value co-creation elements (dialogue, access, risk sharing, and transparency-DART) in the media (posts) under consideration. In general, linear regression indicated that, after the beginning of the pandemic, these DART elements may predict online interaction and intention to donate. Shares and comments had a weak R² before the pandemic outbreak and a strong R² after it; that may be explained by the fact that people spent more time online after the outbreak.