SME Resilience to Covid-19: Insights from Non-Essential Service Providers in Nairobi
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Date
2021
Authors
Ahmed, Eltigani
Kilika, James
Gakenia, Clare
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IJFBS
Abstract
The theory of dynamic resource orchestration explains the differentiated response of homogeneous
ecosystem organizations to systemic disruptive shocks. The Covid-19 precautionary measures in Kenya
have exempted some essential service providers and government agencies, resulting in a differentiated
Covid-19 impact across the national SMEs landscape. This article adopted an extractive thematic
analysis technique to draw insights from in-depth interviews and discussions with owners and managers
of 6 broad-range SMEs considered non-essential services providers excluded from the Covid-19
cessation of movement waiver. The article advanced insights on SMEs' resilience through dynamic
resource orchestration capability. It sought to establish whether the possession and orchestration of
dynamic resources capabilities differentiated highly resilient SMEs from non-resilient ones. The article
identified business diversification, slack finance, intra-stakeholder collaboration, self-reinvention,
positive psychology, technology leverage, and cost management as precursory resilience agents within
Kenyan SMEs. Research gaps were identified, and recommendations for future research were
proposed.
Description
Article
Keywords
SME Resilience, Covid-19, Non-Essential Service Providers, Systemic Disruptive Events, Resource Orchestration
Citation
Ahmed, E., Kilika, J., & Gakenia, C. (2021). SME Resilience to Covid-19: Insights from Non-Essential Service Providers in Nairobi. International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies (2147-4486), 10(4), 24–39. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijfbs.v10i4.1399