ENGLISH 2 HOW SMALL BUSINESSES CAN SURVIVE
DURING COVID-19 VIRUS OUTBREAK
Keywords:
Capital availability, lockdown, government financial support, social distancing, online networking.Abstract
Purpose/Aim:The study examines the possible support andsurvival of small businesses during COVID-19 outbreak.
Methodology: A quantitative study is conducted through online questionnaires distribution and collection of responses through WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages developed by businessmen. A convenience sample of 100 small business owners was selected and their responses were recorded. Partial Least Square –Structural Equation Modeling was used for analysis.
Results: Adaptive environment, government support, online networking and social distancing were having strong positive relationship with business survival. Though lockdown was having positive relationship but it was weakest of all the constructs examined. The capital availability was found to have non-significant relationship with business survival.
Implications:This study may contribute in existing efforts to integrate areas of strategy development for the survival of small business in Pakistan. In addition, the study findings are helpful for the entrepreneurs and policy makers who may concentrate for making small business survive during COVID-19.
Originality/value:While plenty of research has been done on what contributes to the failure or success of SMEs. The study is conducted for the survival of small business during COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Limitations: A cross-sectional study with a small business owner’s response limits the study to the business only. The results may not be generalized to the other sectors.
