Psychological challenges of distance learning in higher education in Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic: innovative potential, dilemmas on the way

In the face the COVID-19 global pandemic and the introduction of distance education have actualized psychological problems, the purpose of the article is to analyze the psychological challenges of distance learning, to determine the innovative potential of ways to overcome them. Theoretical pedagogical research methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, and deduction), modeling method, predictive method was used to write the article. The work is based on the principles of concretization, systematicity, objectivity, and scientificity. The results analyze the effectiveness of means of overcoming the psychological overload of students and teachers because these phenomena have common roots. The main attention is paid to creative ways to overcome fears and insecurities. The concept of psychological resourcefulness was also investigated. The use of digital hygiene method as a part of the confrontation with psychological challenges is justified. The economic causes of stressful situations in students are also highlighted. The conclusions summarized that the effective means for confronting psychological challenges are students' treatment of self-organization and self-help, increasing the level of real self-esteem, self-reflection over life goals, and understanding the needs of psychological help.

Pandemic Makers: How Citizen Groups Mobilized Resources to Meet Local Needs in a Global Health Crisis: ET&P

The enormous scale of suffering, breadth of societal impact, and ongoing uncertainty wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic introduced dynamics seldom examined in the crisis entrepreneurship literature. Previous research indicates that when a crisis causes a failure of public goods, spontaneous citizen ventures often emerge to leverage unique local knowledge to rapidly customize abundant external resources to meet immediate needs. However, as outsiders, emergent citizen groups responding to the dire shortage of personal protective equipment at the onset of COVID-19 lacked local knowledge and legitimacy. In this study, we examine how entrepreneurial citizens mobilized collective resources in attempts to gain acceptance and meet local needs amid the urgency of the pandemic. Through longitudinal case studies of citizen groups connected to makerspaces in four U.S. cities, we study how they adapted to address the resource and legitimacy limitations they encountered. We identify three mechanisms—augmenting, circumventing, and attenuating—that helped transient citizen groups calibrate their resource mobilization based on what they learned over time. We highlight how extreme temporality imposes limits on resourcefulness and legitimation, making it critical for collective entrepreneurs to learn when to work within their limitations rather than try to overcome them.

Impacts of emotional regulation, adaptive selling and customer-oriented behavior on sales performance: the moderating role of job resourcefulness

PurposeGiven the increasing intensity of highly competitive markets, this study aims to evaluate the effect of salespeople's emotional regulation, adaptive selling and customer-oriented behavior on sales performance.Design/methodology/approachA research model was tested by using a sample of 288 respondents from the logistics industry in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships between emotional regulation, adaptive selling, job resourcefulness, customer-oriented behavior and sales performance.FindingsThe results indicate that emotional regulation, adaptive selling and job resourcefulness can improve customer-oriented behavior, and that customer-oriented behavior and job resourcefulness can enhance sales performance. By highlighting the role of job resourcefulness, the authors find a positive moderating effect among these four dimensions.Originality/valueThe findings can help salespeople integrate customer-oriented behaviors into strategic changes to regulate their own emotions and those of others to productively address and resolve difficult business conditions. The theoretical and managerial implications of this work's contributions to international logistics are also discussed.

The link among academic stress, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, academic performance, and the moderating role of resourcefulness in health professions students during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The rapid shift to virtual learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to high academic stress among health profession students. High academic stress was associated with impaired psychosocial well-being and decreased academic performance. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between academic stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, academic performance, and the moderating effect of resourcefulness among undergraduate health profession students. METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study included undergraduate health profession students. The primary investigator distributed the study link to all students through the university's Central Messaging Centre, Twitter account, and WhatsApp. The study variables were measured using the Student Life Stress Inventory, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, the Centre for Epidemiology Scale of Depression, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Resourcefulness Skills Scale. Pearson R correlation and linear regression analysis were utilized for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Our sample included 94 undergraduate health profession students, 60 % of which were females with a mean age of 21, and the majority were nursing and medicine students. High academic stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and resourcefulness were reported among 50.6 %, 43 %, 79.6 %, 60.2 %, and 60 % of the participants, respectively. However, no effect of resourcefulness was found on any of the study variables. Instead, academic stress and sleep disturbances were the strongest predictors of depressive symptoms regardless of the level of resourcefulness. CONCLUSION: Adequate academic support during virtual learning and tools to early detect subtle signs of high academic stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance should be routinely utilized by educational institutions. In addition, incorporating sleep hygiene and resourcefulness training in health professions education is highly indicated.

Pandemic Makers: How Citizen Groups Mobilized Resources to Meet Local Needs in a Global Health Crisis

The enormous scale of suffering, breadth of societal impact, and ongoing uncertainty wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic introduced dynamics seldom examined in the crisis entrepreneurship literature. Previous research indicates that when a crisis causes a failure of public goods, spontaneous citizen ventures often emerge to leverage unique local knowledge to rapidly customize abundant external resources to meet immediate needs. However, as outsiders, emergent citizen groups responding to the dire shortage of personal protective equipment at the onset of COVID-19 lacked local knowledge and legitimacy. In this study, we examine how entrepreneurial citizens mobilized collective resources in attempts to gain acceptance and meet local needs amid the urgency of the pandemic. Through longitudinal case studies of citizen groups connected to makerspaces in four U.S. cities, we study how they adapted to address the resource and legitimacy limitations they encountered. We identify three mechanisms-augmenting, circumventing, and attenuating-that helped transient citizen groups calibrate their resource mobilization based on what they learned over time. We highlight how extreme temporality imposes limits on resourcefulness and legitimation, making it critical for collective entrepreneurs to learn when to work within their limitations rather than try to overcome them.

Israel Facing COVID-19

This paper considers Israel’s response to the challenges raised by the Covid-19 pandemic with a specific focus on the invoked public policies and the related political, economic and legal concerns. I first provide some background information. Then, I outline the keys for the initial success in confronting the coronavirus pandemic. Three factors contributed to the initial Israeli success, namely: the government’s swift and effective reaction to the pandemic;the close cooperation and coordination between the organisations that were mobilised to counter the pandemic, and the effective implementation of governmental policies. However, mistakes were made during the second wave of the pandemic.

Exploring the role of youth work in the fight against the novel coronavirus in Cape Town

The study aimed to investigate the resourcefulness of young people in response to COVID-19 in Cape Town. A qualitative research method was used, and a purposive sampling technique to select the participants. The study selected 10 young people who were at the forefront against the pandemic. A participatory approach through one-on-one semi-structured interviews was used to collect data. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, and the results presented in raw data to achieve the study objective. The rapid spread of the coronavirus in South Africa affected the health and social lives of young people. Cutting off access to school because of lockdown measures resulted in malnutrition for young people who depend on school food schemes. The study findings revealed that digital dexterity, community screening, food parcel distribution, social distance monitoring, and educational awareness comprise the strong reaction that young people embarked on in response to COVID-19. In conclusion, the study recommends that the National Youth Development Agency should offer a grant for young emerging social entrepreneurs during and after COVID-19 to respond to societal issues that affect them and promote community development.

Supply chain resilience and business responses to disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose>At its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption to food supply chains in the UK and for the entire world. Although societal changes created some resilience within the supply chains, high volatility in demand creates supply, logistics and distribution issues. This is reflected in the economic instability of businesses and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In this paper, the authors explore factors behind this initial disruption in the supply chains and offer suggestions to businesses based on the established practices and theories.Design/methodology/approach>The authors use mixed methods research. First, the authors conducted an exploratory study by collecting data from published online sources. Then, the authors analysed possible scenarios from the available information using regression. The authors then conducted two interviews with UK retail sector representatives. These scenarios have been compared and contrasted to provide decision-making points to businesses and supply chain players to tackle current and any future potential disruptions.Findings>The findings from the current exploratory study inform the volatility of supply chains. The authors suggested some possible responses from businesses, during and after the pandemic.Originality/value>The regression model provides a decision-making approach to help supply chain businesses during the pandemic outbreak. Once a complete data set of COVID-19 is available, the authors can create a resilience model that can help businesses and supply chains.

Entrepreneurial resilience and business continuity in the tourism and hospitality industry: the role of adaptive performance and institutional orientation

Purpose - This study aims to explore the dynamics of resilience in tourism and hospitality enterprises by investigating the influence of internal and external contextual factors (i.e. adaptive performance and institutional orientation) on the relationship between entrepreneurs' resilience and business continuity indicators (i.e. perception of career insecurity and business exit intention). Design/methodology/approach - In the Covid-19 pandemic context, quantitative data were collected using self-administrated questionnaires from entrepreneurs (founders of small-sized restaurants and travel agents in Egypt) using structural equation modeling. Findings - The study reveals that entrepreneurs' resilience under adversities directly correlates with business continuity indicators, with adaptive performance and institutional orientation functioning as mediators. Research limitations/implications - The socio-demographic characteristics of entrepreneurs could be further investigated to observe the differences based on age, education and region. The type of business (i.e. restaurants and travel agents) could have an impact on the examined relationships. Therefore, further studies can use multi-group analysis to examine such differences between various sub-sectors of the hospitality business. Finally, the cross-sectional sample method used in this study is another limitation. In any study in which causality is inferred, longitudinal research confirms stronger inferences (Morgan & Hunt, 1994). Practical implications - An instant implication is that entrepreneurs can take proactive actions to enhance their resilience. Entrepreneurs should seek to influence their own skills and abilities through various educational and training programs. For example, they can take advantage of business seminars, workshops and executive education courses. Entrepreneurs who have the chance of enhancing their skills in solving complex problems, identifying their strengths, managing their emotions are better able to adapt to unfavorable circumstances. Social implications - The inhabited environment. Entrepreneurs should be institutionally oriented by building strong communications and networks with key actors and business-to-business customers. This would help entrepreneurs to understand the rules of the game, adapt to the environment, gain market legitimacy and accordingly acquire the social and financial support when hazards occur. Originality/value - The extant literature lacks evidence about the internal and external contextual factors underlying the process of resilience in small and medium-sized enterprises and its outcomes. Research on entrepreneurship has rarely discussed the antecedents of business withdrawal. This study contributes to addressing this research gap.