Analyzing the impact of the coronavirus crisis on business models

How dynamic capabilities enable Chinese SMEs to survive and thrive during COVID-19: Exploring the mediating role of business model innovation

As a response to the damage caused by the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government has implemented severe quarantine measures that have greatly affected the operational patterns of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper explores the critical role of dynamic capabilities (DCs) in helping Chinese SMEs manage crises, adjust their business strategies, and mitigate the uncertainty caused by the epidemic. Although the importance of DCs in promoting organizational resilience is well recognized, academic research on their specific contributions to business model innovation (BMI) and SME performance improvement during crises remains scarce. Our study fills this gap by pioneering the development and empirical testing of a microintegrated mediation model linking DCs, BMI and organizational performance. By surveying 257 Chinese SMEs severely affected by a pandemic, we verify our hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Our results strongly show a positive relationship between DCs and BMI and SME performance. In addition, we found that BMI plays a partial mediating role in the interrelationship between DCs and SME performance. Our findings clarify the critical role of BMI as a channel through which SMEs' DCs can be transformed into higher performance in the face of sudden crises. Thus, our results not only contribute to the broader discussion of strategic management and organizational theory but also provide theoretical and practical insights into the mechanisms by which SMEs can increase their flexibility and resilience in a crisis. Thus, our results not only contribute to the broader discussion of strategic management and organizational theory but also provide theoretical and practical insights into the mechanisms by which SMEs can increase their flexibility and resilience in a crisis. Importantly, this study suggests policy and market strategies that can support SMEs in leveraging DCs and BMI for sustained performance, thereby contributing valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders aiming to fortify economic stability and growth in the face of global health emergencies.

Analyzing the influencing factors of collaborative innovation and industrial structure upgrading on the economy: reflection on the economic dilemma of enterprises

The present study has investigated the impact of enterprises, collaborative innovation, industrial structure, inflation, and entrepreneurship in 27 provinces of China. The study used annual time series data from 2003 to 2019. This study adopts the CC-EMG and AMG tests to estimate the long-term association between the variables. The study applied one-step system GMM, two-step system GMM, Cup-FM, and Cup-BC regression estimations to calculate robust and reliable outcomes. The findings show that collaborative innovation, industrial structure, and entrepreneurship positively impact economic growth, whereas enterprises and inflation negatively impact economic growth. The estimated results also provide important policy implications for the selected and the other emerging economies in designing an appropriate way forward to economic development.

Gauging urban resilience in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic via social network analysis

Social distancing policies and other restrictive measures have demonstrated efficacy in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these interventions have concurrently led to short- and long-term alterations in social connectedness. Comprehending the transformation in intracity social interactions is imperative for facilitating post-pandemic recovery and development. In this research, we employ social network analysis (SNA) to delve into the nuances of urban resilience. Specifically, we constructed intricate networks utilizing human mobility data to represent the impact of social interactions on the structural attributes of social networks while assessing urban resilience by examining the stability features of social connectedness. Our findings disclose a diverse array of responses to social distancing policies regarding social connectedness and varied social reactions across U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Social networks generally exhibited a shift from dense to sparse configurations during restrictive orders, followed by a transition from sparse to dense arrangements upon relaxation of said orders. Furthermore, we analyzed the alterations in social connectedness as demonstrated by network centrality, which can presumably be attributed to the rigidity of policies and the inherent qualities of the examined MSAs. Our findings contribute valuable scientific insights to support informed decision-making for post-pandemic recovery and development initiatives.

Innovating agri-food business models after the Covid-19 pandemic: The impact of digital technologies on the value creation and value capture mechanisms

This paper investigates the phenomenon of business models innovation (BMI) empowered by digital technologies and activated as a response to Covid-19 crisis. In fact, during the crisis numerous digital redesigns of businesses occurred to pursue both continuity and competitive advantage. Among these, the food retail sector has undergone under the pressure of the crisis intense digital changes, which, however, have not yet been investigated under the theoretical lens of BMI. To fill this gap, the paper analyzes the digital actions taken during the pandemic crisis by two large food retailers, namely Walmart and Carrefour. Covering a wide temporal interval of the pandemic evolution and reviewing multiple geographical markets, the authors interpreted the grocer's digital responses to the crisis in terms of innovation in value creation and capture mechanisms. As a result, three phases of digital BMI have been reconstructed, each characterized by specific mechanisms of value creation and capture experienced by the two grocers during the pandemic. Leveraging these findings, the paper proposes a model capable of defining how digital BMI takes place in response to crises. Results broaden theoretical knowledge and practical suggestions on digital BMI in terms of enabling factors, actionable value mechanisms, and future business opportunities.

Digital transformation, technological innovation, and operational resilience of port firms in case of supply chain disruption

To investigate how the digital transformation of port firms improves their operational resilience, we design methods to measure their digital transformation grade (DTG), technological innovation capacity (TIC), and port operational resilience (POR) respectively. Based on 3586 samples retrieved from 334 Chinese port firms from 2011 to 2021, their relationships are statistically described and preliminarily regressed by an ordinary least-squares model and a fixed-effect model. After testing the effects of supply chain disruption, endogeneity, and robustness, we reveal that digital transformation improves firms' competitiveness and operational resilience by coordinating human resources, information, and technology. We confirm that TIC plays an intermediate role and an adverse event has an enhancement effect. An inverted-U curve between DTG and POR proves that port firms often suffer growing pains at the initial stage and their POR will be promoted by continuous digital inputs, but the leading port firms would gain fewer marginal benefits.

Stakeholder pressure and innovation capacity of SMEs in the COVID-19 pandemic: Mediating and multigroup analysis

During environmental crises, it has always been particularly interesting to investigate how companies, specifically small- and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), find solutions to survive and learn how to act in adverse situations. We conducted our study during the current coronavirus pandemic to analyse how stakeholder pressure affects both the innovation capabilities of SMEs and their firm performance. On the one hand, we examine whether the market and financial performance are better in the presence of less stakeholder pressure. On the other hand, we analyse whether SMEs implement internal mechanisms that enhance their innovation capacity to solve external problems caused by greater stakeholder pressure, which in turn affects firm performance. Our main findings show that during the pandemic, stakeholder pressure is related to the innovative capacity of SMEs; therefore, the higher the pressure, the more important the innovative response of SMEs. However, with higher pressure, the company's performance would be directly reduced in the short term, as the conditions set would be more unfavourable. Innovation capacity also plays a mediating role in preventing poor business performance because of increased stakeholder pressure. Owing to the importance of the chief executive officer (CEO) in SMEs, we test, through multigroup analysis, the differences based on the CEO's educational level. For example, commitment to innovation in SMEs may be more important for managers with higher education. Finally, our findings show how managers can learn to face new challenges in unfavourable environments.

Self-Efficacy in Disrupted Environments: COVID-19 as a Natural Experiment

In two studies, we investigate whether the link between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intentions depends on outcome expectations. In Study 1, we exploit the COVID-19-induced lockdown as a natural experiment in a two-wave student sample. We compare the efficacy–intention link in survey responses submitted right before and right after the lockdown. In Study 2, we conceptually replicate and extend the findings via an online vignette experiment. Together, these studies show that a disruption of stable institutionalized outcome expectations implying increasing risk and uncertainty makes self-efficacy a weaker predictor of entrepreneurial intentions, particularly among those with pessimistic perceptions.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic – catching up in the food industry through business model innovation

Purpose

The food supply chain worldwide has suffered severely due to the COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures. Previous research suggests that business model innovation (BMI) could be a viable solution for recovering from the pandemic and fostering organizational resilience. This study analyzes the capabilities that enable food companies to innovate their business model and thereby increase organizational resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

Results were obtained using a multiple-case study approach consisting of 15 companies along the entire food supply chain. Managers and decision-makers were interviewed, and the collected insights were enriched with additional material.

Findings

The results show several capabilities that enable companies to innovate their business model due to disruption. These capabilities are categorized into four phases based on the processual representation of BMIs.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of BMI in the food supply chain and provides empirical evidence on the potential for business recovery through BMI.

Medical Staff Shortages and the Performance of Outpatient Clinics in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Unlike many industries, healthcare was simultaneously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in two opposite ways. On the one hand, the industry faced shortages and overload of many medical representatives such as nurses and infectious disease professionals, but on the other, many medical professionals such as dentists were left with considerably reduced demand. The objective of this paper is to study the efficiency of medical staff allocation and the performance of small and medium sized outpatient clinics in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owing to the contemporaneity of this problem, we have employed a multiple case study approach. Our sample comprises 5 small and medium-sized outpatient clinics located in Poland in the 3-year period 2019-2021. The results indicate a considerable percentage of medical staff employed in small and medium-sized outpatient clinics remained outside the pandemic, despite their potential provision of healthcare services. Four of the five clinics studied remained passive towards the pandemic. In view of future pandemics, the indications we provide have practical implications for outpatient clinics executives and public health policymakers.

The influence of big data analytic capabilities building and education on business model innovation

As organizations are benefiting from investments in big data analytics capabilities building and education, our study has analyzed the impact of big data analytics capabilities building and education on business model innovation. It has also assessed technological orientation and employee creativity as mediating and moderating variables. Questionnaire data from 499 managers at enterprises in Jiangsu, China have been analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in SmartPLS. Big data analytics capabilities building and education strengthen technological orientation and increase business model innovation. Technology orientation increases business model innovation and plays a mediating role. Employee creativity also boosts innovation. These findings show that business managers should adopt and promote a technological orientation. They should hire and train employees with big data education and training. Organizations can try to select and support employees who show creativity.

Adoption of ICTs as an emergent business strategy during and following COVID-19 crisis: evidence from Indian MSMEs

Purpose

This study aims to identify how ICT appeared as an emergent business strategy and to investigate the impact of ICT adoption factors on the perceived benefits of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 393 responses from Indian small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) were collected for the final analysis. The study presents the partial least-squares structural equation modeling with the Chi-square test and descriptive analysis as a methodology based on numerous independent variables and one dependent variable.

Findings

The findings indicate that ICT adoption during and following the COVID-19 pandemic is constant in nature of the enterprise. Moreover, the results indicate that different adoption of ICT factors influence on perceived benefits of organizational performance of Indian MSMEs that lent good support except for the regulatory framework.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of the current research help Indian MSMEs to take investment decisions in various technologies that help the organization. Furthermore, managers and practitioners help the organization in deciding which technology adoption factors are more critical to the betterment of the organization.

Originality/value

The study found certain ICT adoption factors that have a significant role in organizational performance in Indian MSMEs. Moreover, during COVID-19, investigate ICTs' role as a business strategy.

Sustainable Innovation in the Financial Sector during the Corona Crisis: How Discontinuity Affects Sustainable Innovation, Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Absorptive Capacity

The corona crisis caused discontinuity within the financial sector, which has further increased the importance of innovation for sustainability and the capability to manage discontinuity. The aim of this research is to investigate how the corona crisis affected the relationship between sustainability-oriented innovation, sustainable entrepreneurial orientation, and absorptive capacity in the financial sector. Empirical research was carried out in the Dutch financial sector during the corona crisis by means of semi-structured interviews with senior managers, semi-structured group interviews with employees, observations, and documentation. The results of this qualitative exploratory case-study research show that the corona crisis has caused discontinuity for the case organization, which has led to an increase in uncertainty and a decrease in risk appetite. However, the degree of proactivity, innovativeness, knowledge adaptation, knowledge acquisition, knowledge exploitation, and knowledge transformation have also increased as a result of the corona crisis. Therefore, the case organization was able to manage discontinuity and realize more sustainability-oriented innovation. Findings seem to indicate that for the case organization, the corona crisis had a predominantly positive effect on (the relationship between) sustainability-oriented innovation, sustainable entrepreneurial orientation, and absorptive capacity. This research has several theoretical and practical implications and contains recommendations for further research and practice.

Using Business Analytics for SME Business Model Transformation under Pandemic Time Pressure

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on many industry sectors, forcing many companies and particularly Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fundamentally change their business models under extreme time pressure. While there are claims that technologies such as analytics can help such rapid transitions, little empirical research exists that shows if or how Business Analytics (BA) supports the adaptation or innovation of SMEs' business models, let alone within the context of extreme time pressure and turbulence. This study addresses this gap through an exemplar case, where the SME actively used location-based business analytics for rapid business model adaptation and innovation during the Covid-19 crisis. The paper contributes to existing theory by providing a set of propositions, an agenda for future research and a guide for SMEs to assess and implement their own use of analytics for business model transformation.

Start-ups' business model changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: Counteracting adversities and pursuing opportunities

This article investigates how start-ups have been affected by, and have responded to, the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing interview data from 32 Australian start-ups during Australia's second wave of COVID-19. A framework and visualisation were developed, capturing unexplored heterogeneity within these start-ups, depending whether the emphasis was upon opportunities or adversity, and the type and extent of business model changes. Six start-up types were identified: stable beneficiaries, business-as-usual continuers, digital adjusters, adversity survivors, opportunity graspers and lemonade makers. The findings suggest that most start-ups responded to the crisis through business model changes because of crisis-induced opportunities and crisis-induced adversity The anaysis found that the interplay between firm size and crisis influences whether start-ups focus on business model adaptation or business model innovation or a combination of both We thus contribute to the literature on business models, crisis management and a newly emerging field focusing on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for start-ups.

Temporary business model innovation – SMEs’ innovation response to the Covid‐19 crisis

The Covid‐19 crisis has hit SMEs particularly hard. Numerous business models (BM) have been limited or rendered downright impossible due to decreased social contact. SMEs can respond to this exogenous crisis via temporary business model innovation (BMI). This empirical study investigates these temporary BMs using a multiple case study approach based on five SMEs in Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein who within a short period of time applied their core competencies and networks to integrate new BMs, which were in some cases very different from existing ones. These had a positive effect on strategic flexibility, and if desired can also be incorporated into the firm long‐term. The paper contributes to SME crisis management during the Covid‐19 pandemic by pointing out and developing a successful management mechanism that allows to survive a crisis or even improve during this time. Moreover, we contribute to BMI literature by explaining temporary BMI as a new form of BMI. It also makes clear to managers that temporary BMs add value to firms and create new revenue streams.

An integrated data framework for policy guidance during the coronavirus pandemic: Towards real-time decision support for economic policymakers

Usually, official and survey-based statistics guide policymakers in their choice of response instruments to economic crises. However, in an early phase, after a sudden and unforeseen shock has caused unexpected and fast-changing dynamics, data from traditional statistics are only available with non-negligible time delays. This leaves policymakers uncertain about how to most effectively manage their economic countermeasures to support businesses, especially when they need to respond quickly, as in the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this information deficit, we propose a framework that guided policymakers throughout all stages of this unforeseen economic shock by providing timely and reliable sources of firm-level data as a basis to make informed policy decisions. We do so by combining early stage 'ad hoc' web analyses, 'follow-up' business surveys, and 'retrospective' analyses of firm outcomes. A particular focus of our framework is on assessing the early effects of the pandemic, using highly dynamic and large-scale data from corporate websites. Most notably, we show that textual references to the coronavirus pandemic published on a large sample of company websites and state-of-the-art text analysis methods allowed to capture the heterogeneity of the pandemic's effects at a very early stage and entailed a leading indication on later movements in firm credit ratings. While the proposed framework is specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of results obtained from real-time online sources in the design of subsequent surveys and their value in forecasting firm-level outcomes typically targeted by policy measures, is a first step towards a more timely and holistic approach for policy guidance in times of economic shocks.

Financing constraints and firm-level responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: International evidence

We explore whether financing constraints affected the ways in which small and medium-sized enterprises navigated through the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw on data from a novel source, the COVID-19 Impact Follow-up Surveys conducted in 19 countries by the World Bank Enterprise Analysis Unit as a follow-up to enterprise surveys conducted in these countries prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. We find that previous bank-lending credit constraints magnified the effects of the pandemic. More specifically, credit-rationed firms were more likely to experience greater liquidity and cash flow problems and more likely than unconstrained firms to be delinquent in meeting their obligations to financial institutions during the economic crisis. Furthermore, these firms were less likely to have access to bank funding as a principal source of financing to address pandemic-induced cash flow and liquidity problems during the COVID-19 outbreak. We further find that credit-constrained firms were more likely to use trade credit, delay payments to suppliers or employees, and rely on government grants to cope with pandemic-related liquidity and cash flow problems. We find little evidence that credit-rationed firms were more likely to raise equity capital during this economic crisis. Finally, we find that financing constraints were more likely to hamper firms' ability to adjust business operations in response to exogenous shocks. This study contributes to the literature on the impact of credit constraints on firm behavior in times of crisis.

A plea for responsible and inclusive knowledge management at the world level

Purpose

This essay aims to draw attention to the idea of a new research approach to knowledge management (KM) labelled responsible KM (rKM) as a possible answer to not only address the consequences of the pandemic but also other present and upcoming societal challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This essay has been prepared by a KM researcher who shares their own personal views and opinion regarding past and current societal developments and based on that offers a potentially new KM direction.

Findings

Switching the focus to rKM may help address current and upcoming social challenges that can only be addressed jointly by the global community and which would also involve a new consideration of the “knowledge” resource.

Originality/value

The essay proposes a new alternative approach to KM called rKM that is based on ideas that to the author’s knowledge have not been discussed in this way in the contemporary literature on KM.

Transcending the COVID-19 crisis: Business resilience and innovation of the restaurant industry in China

Utilizing the content analysis approach, this study analyzed 153 textual information sources to explore Chinese restaurant enterprises' innovative activities during and after COVID-19. An innovative crisis management model was synthesized from a micro-level perspective by adopting the life cycle model to dynamically measure the innovative strategies applied by Chinese restaurant enterprises in their emergency responses and recovery efforts. Two types of innovative activities that led to internal and external performances were identified based on the push and pull theory of business motivation. Findings further indicated five dimensions of innovative strategies at two different stages: pandemic prevention and control, government and community, corporate social responsibility, marketing response, and management response at the stage of emergency responses; and pandemic prevention and control, cooperation with third parties, customer service innovation, product innovation, and innovative marketing strategy at the stage of recovery efforts. Theoretical and empirical implications are also carefully discussed.

Sustainability practices during COVID-19: an institutional perspective

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how sustainable practices in supply chains are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of institutional theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This research applies a twofold data collection approach: 1) qualitative semistructured interviews and 2) secondary data collection that includes sustainability reports, newspaper articles, journal articles, strategic plans, research reports and statements made by authorities and stakeholders concerning decision-making. In total, managers representing six companies in Norway were interviewed.

Findings

The study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, companies tend to focus on short-term decisions and economic issues. The long-term focus on sustainability has, however, increased at the cluster level. The research also indicates that the pandemic has led to the development of new business routines that may transform institutional norms. The diversity of institutional contexts can, on the one hand, drive sustainability transitions through pressures and supportive programs but, on the other hand, also hinder the development of sustainability thinking.

Research limitations/implications

Institutional factors must be included when analyzing the effects of crises and sustainable transitions. Researchers are encouraged to explore the COVID-19 implications in the form of longitudinal studies.

Practical implications

Policymakers can benefit from in-depth knowledge on the adverse effects of an institutional environment on sustainability. For managers, the outbreak of the pandemic can afford them additional time to revise their strategies and seek innovation. The pandemic highlights the need to build more resilient and sustainable systems that will aid managers in responding rapidly during future uncertainties and enduring sustainability trajectories in operations.

Originality/value

The paper offers an in-depth investigation of COVID-19 effects on the sustainability of supply chains by drawing on institutional theory.

Turning Crisis into Opportunities: How a Firm Can Enrich Its Business Operations Using Artificial Intelligence and Big Data during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has severe impacts on global health and social and economic safety. The present study discusses strategies for turning the COVID-19 crisis into opportunities to use artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in business operations. Based on the shared experience and theoretical ground, researchers identified five major business challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: production and supply-chain disruption, appropriate business model selection, inventory management, budget planning, and workforce management. These five challenges were outlined with eight business cases as examples of companies that had already utilized AI and big data for their business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights into contemporary social science research and business management with AI and big data applications as a business response to any crisis in the future.

Impact of Empowering Leadership, Innovative Work, and Organizational Learning Readiness on Sustainable Economic Performance: An Empirical Study of Companies in Russia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic shocked the global economy, with numerous companies suffering losses and shutting down. However, some companies proved to be resilient, being able to sustain their economic performance despite the pandemic. The study aims to explain the sustainable economic performance of companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relationships between empowering leadership, innovative work behavior, organizational readiness to change, and sustainable economic performance were assessed. The data were collected via an online questionnaire from January 2021 to March 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. The respondents were Russian companies’ employees holding management positions, competent to objectively assess organizational circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 337 was used in the analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood estimation was conducted using SPSS AMOS. The structural model was tested with standardized parameter estimates, standard errors, and p-values calculated. The findings of the study suggest that innovative work behavior and organizational readiness to learn have a direct influence on sustainable economic performance. The findings also suggest that empowering leadership impacts innovative work behavior but not sustainable economic performance. The mediation analysis indicates that innovative work behavior is a mediator between empowering leadership and sustainable economic performance, whereas organizational readiness to learn is not a moderator. The study adds to the leadership and sustainability body of knowledge and contributes to the research on the COVID-19 pandemic in the organizational context.

Development and testing of an explorative BPM acceptance model: Insights from the COVID-19 pandemic

When emerging technologies transform an organization’s way of working, explorative business process management (BPM) becomes a new challenge. Although digital innovations can boost process efficacy and business productivity, employees do not necessarily accept the implied work changes. We therefore looked at the increased digitalization efforts during the COVID-19 lockdowns, during which employees were forced to drastically rethink work by heavily depending on technology for communication and almost all business tasks. This global setting allowed us to scrutinize disruptive work changes and how employees can cope with disruptive work adaptations. We also looked into the explorative skillset needed to adapt to these changes. To theorize about an explorative BPM acceptance model, eleven hypotheses were supported based on a solid theoretical foundation. We followed a quantitative research design using partial least squares for structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) at the university administration settings in two regions, including purposive sampling. Data analysis covered both a measurement model assessment and structural model assessment. Our findings reveal that employees’ perceived work modalities, feeling creative and feeling flexible are more promising features than perceived influence and attitude related to explorative work and skill development. We also offer novel insights into explorative business process management (BPM) skills, and which skills are more productive in uncertain or dynamic working conditions. This research is a learning path for managers struggling with flexible or competitive business environments, and more specifically to facilitate employee willingness.

Risk assessment model and application of COVID-19 virus transmission in closed environments at sea

This paper focuses on the risk assessment methods of novel coronavirus pneumonia virus (COVID-19) pneumonia virus spreading in closed marine environment. Firstly, the possibility of the spread of new coronavirus in closed environments at sea and the consequences of the harm caused by the epidemic are classified into five levels, and the corresponding risk assessment framework is constructed, and the risk assessment model of the spread of COVID-19 pneumonia virus in closed environment at sea is established taking the Japanese "Diamond Princess" as an example, the model is applied and its output is analysed. Finally, the proportion of the cumulative confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess is calculated, and the possibility of viral infection of Diamond Princess passengers in this COVID-19 pneumonia epidemic in four different risk transmission stages are assessed, and the corresponding risk assessment is undertaken. Through the calculation of risk assessment value, the five stages of the epidemic are established to assess the risk of the "Diamond Princess" outbreak. The research method in the present work helps to provide a risk assessment and analysis idea for the risk of spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in a closed environment at sea.

Mobile apps for SME business sustainability during COVID-19 and onwards

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to cope with the business uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines how SMEs in developing economies have used mobile apps to improve their business efficiency during the pandemic. We aim to recognize effective measures and actions taken by SMEs that have turned to mobile-app-based business to improve their sustainability during the crisis. The study bridges a literature gap by extending the Theory of Consumption Values and the Theory of Planned Behavior to SMEs that incorporate mobile-app-based business. Data was collected from 343 SMEs from three Industrial Development Corporations (IDCs) in India. Using the covariance-based structural equation modeling method, we investigated the efficiency of a conceptual model of mobile-app-based business for SMEs. The results revealed that consumer choice behavior, perceived behavior control, subjective behavior control and attitude towards the mobile app all influence SMEs' decision-making and business strategy. As such, SMEs need a powerful mobile-app-based business network to succeed in the entrepreneurial business process. Using instrumental variable analysis, we discovered that increased mobile app usage significantly improves SMEs' long-term efficiency. The analysis provides several theoretical and managerial ramifications.

Identifying consumer segments based on COVID-19 pandemic perceptions and responses

Consumer responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have varied widely. Thus, marketers need to understand consumer segments based on pandemic-related responses and behaviors. Through two studies conducted 9 months apart, we find that consumers shift from three segments in Study 1-the Apprehensive, the Prepared, and the Dismissive, to two segments in Study 2-the Dedicated and the Dismissive. The Apprehensive feel particularly threatened of the virus. The Prepared and the Dedicated perceive a lower susceptibility but still take the health threat seriously. The Dismissive downplay the threat and exhibit more negative reactions to mitigation measures. We also demonstrate between-segment downstream response differences. While the Apprehensive and the Prepared/Dedicated exhibit positive attitude toward companies enforcing guidelines, the Apprehensive engage in the most panic buying, hoarding, and stockpiling. The Dedicated also express greater stress and less life satisfaction than the Dismissive. The findings offer theoretical and practical implications for pandemic-related consumer responses.

Entrepreneurship and the Post-COVID-19 Recovery in Emerging Economies

Entrepreneurs play a focal role in a society's economic recovery from major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that entrepreneurs’ ability to identify and act on entrepreneurial opportunities during the crisis reflects their resilience, and their innovations facilitate new patterns of work, learning, and leisure activities in post-COVID-19 societies. However, how, how quickly they act, and how influential their actions are depends on their context in terms of institutions, resource access, and market volatility. In China, some entrepreneurs have shown great resilience by utilizing network relationships and digital technology, not only to overcome short-term disruptions in 2020 but to shape the evolving ‘new normal’ where behaviors and capabilities have changed as a consequence of the experience of the pandemic. We discuss drivers of such resilient entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and call for further research on the interplay between external disruptions, different types of entrepreneurship, and the consequences for resilience in emerging economies.

A Review of Research on Tourism Industry, Economic Crisis and Mitigation Process of the Loss: Analysis on Pre, During and Post Pandemic Situation

Throughout time, the global tourism industry and economy have been significantly affected by disasters and crises. At present, COVID-19 represents one of these disasters as it has been causing a serious economic downturn with huge implications in tourism. In this review paper, we have analysed more than 100 papers regarding the effect and consequences of a pandemic on tourism and related industries, the economic situation in countries and areas, and mitigation of the loss incurred due to pandemic situations. The article (1) is based on past research on tourism and economy, (2) examines the effects of a pandemic on listed sectors and mitigation processes, and (3) suggests future research and approaches to help progress the field. We have gathered and categorised the literature reviews into several parts. In addition, we have listed the name of authors, journal names, books, websites, and relevant data.

Financial performance of China's listed firms in presence of coronavirus: Evidence from corporate culture and corporate social responsibility

Motivated from the shortage of the existing research studies on impacts of dangerously contagious diseases on firms' financial performance, this study sheds light on the impacts of Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak on financial performance upon on the quarterly data of 126 Chinese listed firms across 16 industries. Overall, the Covid-19 outbreak reduced Chinese listed firms' financial performance proxied by the revenue growth rate, ROA, ROE, and asset turnover. This outbreak's negative effects on Chinese firms' profitability were much smaller than that on their revenue growth rates. While this outbreak's negative effects on financial performance of Chinese listed firms were bigger for those that were seriously affected by this pandemic like airlines, travel, and entertainment (ATE), this pandemic's effects were positive for the medicine industry. In the meanwhile, Chinese listed firms that located in high-risk regions suffered a bigger financial loss during the outbreak, and especially there was a strong Hubei effect. The corporate culture and CSR moderated the inverse relationship between this outbreak and Chinese firms' financial performance. Findings of this study contribute to enrich the existing literature on impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on firms' financial performance worldwide and suggest helpful practical and theoretical implications.

Facilitating artificial intelligence powered supply chain analytics through alliance management during the pandemic crises in the B2B context

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and exposed weak links in the chains far beyond what most people have witnessed in their living memory. The scale of disruption affects every nation and industry, and the sudden and dramatic changes in demand and supply that have occurred during the pandemic crisis clearly differentiate its impact from other crises. Using the dynamic capabilities view, we studied alliance management capability (AMC) and artificial intelligence (AI) driven supply chain analytics capability (AI-SCAC) as dynamic capabilities, under the moderating effect of environmental dynamism. We tested our four research hypotheses using survey data collected from the Indian auto components manufacturing industry. For data analysis we used Warp PLS 7.0 (a variance-based structural equation modelling tool). We found that alliance management capability under the mediating effect of artificial intelligence-powered supply chain analytics capability enhances the operational and financial performance of the organization. Moreover, we also observed that the alliance management capability has a significant effect on artificial intelligence-powered supply chain analytics capability under the moderating effect of environmental dynamism. The results of our study provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamic capabilities and the relational view of organization. Finally, we noted the limitations of our study and provide numerous research directions that may help answer some of the questions that arise from our study.

A systematic review on the impacts of Covid-19 on work: Contributions and a path forward from the perspectives of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work

Work is a major issue in the discussions on the Covid-19 pandemic, whose consequences impair the capacities of workers at all organizational levels and impose unexpected challenges on managers. Nevertheless, the scientific literature still lacks an overview of how researchers have been covering the issue. This article presents a systematic review to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on work and workers of all occupations, reveal research gaps, and help managers to adapt to organizations amid the pandemic. This review is based on a sample of 258 papers from Web of Science and Scopus databases. Quantitative and qualitative analysis indicated a vast majority of studies focused on frontline healthcare workers and a lack of empirical investigation on managers' work. We show how literature has been addressing different aspects of work (e.g., workers' health, working conditions, procedures, protection equipment, remote working, etc.) in the various economic sectors. We discuss the results in light of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work, two disciplines that conceive work and organization as intimately connected, and that can assist managers in meeting the difficulties brought by the pandemic. We highlight that considering the construction of health, interindividual variability, subjective relation to work, supportive workplace environment, and organizational and individual capabilities can play a key role in successfully adapting and transforming organizations in the current scenario.

Entrepreneurship and Resilience in Spanish Sports Clubs: A Cluster Analysis

Entrepreneurial orientation can be an effective response by sports clubs to manage a recession, such as the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, its study can be fundamental to understand different ways of managing a recession. This study analyzes the entrepreneurial orientation of Spanish non-profit sports clubs to identify different groups and their profiles. The sample is composed of 145 Spanish non-profit sports clubs. Different validated scales have been used to analyze entrepreneurial orientation, business model adaptation, service quality, and economic and social performance (performance in social impact and performance in social causes). Entrepreneurial orientation is the variable used to differentiate the groups. This is made up of three dimensions: innovation, risk-taking, and proactivity. According to the results obtained, there are three groups of sports clubs according to their entrepreneurial orientation: non-entrepreneurs (n = 11), moderate entrepreneurs (n = 85), and strong entrepreneurs (n = 45). There are substantial differences between the three groups according to the adaptation of the business model, the perceived impact of COVID-19, and the returns analyzed. Strong entrepreneurs have considerably higher levels of business model adaptation, economic performance, social performance, and perceived service quality than non-entrepreneurs. Theoretical and practical implications have been drawn that can bring new information to the sports and organizational sector. For example, the diagnosis of the different profiles according to the level of entrepreneurship can be useful to propose strategies to improve performance. In this way, it can help to evaluate the return on the investment made by sponsors or governments in the organization.

Russian Tourism Enterprises’ Marketing Innovations to Meet the COVID-19 Challenges

This paper discusses the results of a study aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the Russian tourism market and how local tourism enterprises respond to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Summarizing their experience of doing business in crisis conditions can allow a more efficient response to similar crises in the future and contribute to a more resilient tourism sector in the aftermath of the pandemic. In order to meet the research objective, we combined various sources of operational statistical information about the state of the industry with the results of a survey conducted in the Nizhny Novgorod region and in-depth interviews with representatives of tourism enterprises. We found that Russian tourism enterprises have proved to be quite resilient by looking for additional opportunities, and paying special attention to staff development and team consolidation. However, there are problems faced by local tourism enterprises in obtaining state support. Therefore, tourism enterprises that rely on themselves and innovate to create services and products adjusted to new customer needs and preferences have a better chance to survive. In particular, the wider use of digital marketing instruments helps SMEs to propose a new value for customers aligned to the new requirements and trends in tourism, such as travel security, prevailing interest in individual and short-term trips for short distances, and the sharply increased demand for domestic tourism destinations.

The impact of modern communication marketing tools to increase the innovativeness of business

The scientific paper aims to examine the influence of marketing communication tools on the innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises increasing in the Slovak Republic. Nowadays the most companies struggle with business revenue due to the pandemic situation of COVID-19 disease. Many business processes moved to the online area, especially daily workers cooperation, communication with customers, sales support, and almost all types of marketing activities. Experience has shown that the key to success in business is the adequate setup of the communication tools. This issue is important not only in the company, but it took a crucial role in the communication with customers. Customers had to adapt to the new COVID-19 situation that dramatically changed their shopping habits. The survey responses were divided into two basic groups focused on traditional marketing and modern (online) tools. The research rests on data from the interviews with 825 managers or owners of small and medium-sized enterprises of the Slovak Republic. Data were examined using descriptive and regression analysis. The presented results showed that traditional and modern tools of marketing communication impacted increasing the innovation of companies. Besides, the impact of business internationalization on increasing business innovation has been demonstrated. The results were supplemented using various modern marketing tools. For evaluating these results, the method of calculation of constructed surface polygons was used. The findings showed that modern marketing communication tools were better for innovative companies than for non-innovative ones. This difference is up to 14.7%. Moreover, the findings showed many possibilities for improving modern marketing communication tools such as artificial intelligence in online communication through mobile marketing applications, analytical tools, or chatbots.

The role of business model innovation in the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 crisis

The hospitality industry worldwide is among the hardest-hit industries from the COVID-19 lockdowns. Initial theoretical and practical observations in the hospitality industry indicate that business model innovation (BMI) might be a solution to recover from and successfully cope with the COVID-19 crisis. Interestingly, some firms in the hospitality industry already started to successfully adapt their business models. This study explores the why and how of these successful recovery attempts through BMI by conducting a multiple case study of six hospitality firms in Austria. We rely on interview data from managers together with one of their main stammgasts for each case, which we triangulate with secondary data for the analysis. Findings show that BMI is applied during and after the crisis to create new revenue streams and secure a higher level of liquidity, with an important role of stammgasts.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sports Entrepreneurship

Sports entrepreneurship has been considered an important part of sports organisations when overcoming crisis situations. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of the crisis derived from COVID-19 on sports entrepreneurship and whether there are differences in the prediction of entrepreneurship on service quality in non-profit sports clubs. To this end, 145 sports clubs were analysed before and after the outbreak of the virus in society. Paired sample-t tests were carried out to determine the differences in variables studied before (Time I) and after (Time II) the COVID-19 outbreak, and correlations and hierarchical linear regressions were used to analyse the relationship between the variables studied in the two different stages. The results obtained show that risk-taking and innovation are significantly higher after the appearance of COVID-19, while proactivity has not undergone significant changes. Finally, the relationship between sports entrepreneurship and service quality is positive and significant in both stages but stronger before the crisis.