Effective communication management in a public health crisis: lessons learned about COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of health communication executives

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to provide insights on the COVID-19 pandemic communication from the lessons learned by health communication executives-how they perceived the COVID-19 pandemic and recommend preparing for communication management of future public health crises.Design/methodology/approachA number of top health communication executives in the United States, who worked in the healthcare industry for at least 25 years and held titles like director, president and chief strategist, were interviewed for their unique perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used the contingency theory of strategic conflict management for qualitative deductive analysis of the following segmentations of key factors that drove organizational communication management decision making during the pandemic: organization characteristics, relationship characteristics, general external climate, external publics and the issue under question.FindingsHealth communication executives heavily relied on their past health communication experiences, which led to nuanced understandings of the COVID-19 pandemic. Practically, the health communication executives urged future practitioners to constantly assess risks, hire and use diverse and representative decision-makers;set a communication protocol;and keep the communication in perspective. Theoretically, the contingency theory is furthered-there appears to be a theoretical linkage between the construct of general external climate and the construct of the external public.Originality/valueThe unique perspectives of top health communication executives, based in the United States, provided in-depth insights on the COVID-19 pandemic-its nuances, challenges and main influences (e.g. political, racial, etc.). These takeaways and recommendations can be adapted by other organizations and future health communicators in other parts of the world.

Analyzing the impact of stock options on talent retention and knowledge product generativity at knowledge intensive firms

Purpose: Since the subject matters of human resources activities on knowledge intensive firms have been changed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, this study aims to analyze the impact of stock options on talent retention (knowledge worker retention) and knowledge productivity (innovation) in terms of patents, which directly affect the financial performance of knowledge intensive firms. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on agency and contingency theory to design the causality model, this study analyzes the data obtained from 227 publicly traded knowledge intensive firms in information technology (IT) and healthcare sectors. Panel data analysis is used to determine the long run causal relationship between firm innovation, knowledge worker retention and financial performance, in addition to ANOVA for evaluating firm size as a lurking variable on the effect of stock options. Findings: The results of this study demonstrate that, when firm size is taken into account, (1) stock options significantly affect knowledge worker retention and firms' financial performance, and this impact is stronger in a during-pandemic situation than in a pre-pandemic situation (2) firm innovation significantly affects firms' financial performance and this impact is stronger in a during-pandemic situation than in a pre-pandemic situation;(3) knowledge worker retention doesn't have a significant impact on firm innovation and firms' financial performance. Moreover, random effect regression analysis for long-term relationships also depicts the same results: knowledge worker retention has non-significant impact on firm innovation and financial performance, but firm innovation significantly affects financial performance. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, the authors are the first to compare the effects of stock options, knowledge worker retention and firm innovation in both pre- and during-pandemic scenarios where firm size is taken into consideration. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

A Conceptual Framework to Minimize Covid-19 Pandemic effects on Total Quality Management in SME Software Firms

The purpose of this research is to establish a conceptual framework for total quality management in SME software firms in order to reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the analysis of the Total Quality Management framework, a growth analysis of the emerging sustainable business process is determined. To comprehend the TQM's primary components, a framework for TQM was developed. An in-depth examination of the TQM elements that analytically and constructively assess cognitive development at the level of economic emergence constitutes the research gap. SME software firms' characteristics and issues were discussed. TQM and the success of SMEs were found to be related. The contingency theory and expectancy theories have defined various aspects of performance and developmental growth in a business setting in this research. This research suggests a conceptual framework that can reduce the COVID-19 pandemic's negative effects on SME software firms' total quality management. Companies must concentrate on the development of software approaches in order to control business performance through SME software. A conceptual framework has established a supportive relationship among the concepts and objectives of the research structure. Here in this research, a concept analysis of the Total Quality Management components with standard business management process has emerged a better growth in the constructive business developmental process. © 2022, Success Culture Press. All rights reserved.

Direct and Indirect Influences of Environmental Hostility on Export Performance

Purpose – This study is built upon the critique that contingent variables, such as environmental effects, are mostly considered to moderate relationships rather than measured as a direct or indirect influence toward a specific outcome variable of interest. This study aims to contribute to knowledge that the firm’s export performance, as the outcome variable, is directly and indirectly influenced by environmental hostility with entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities along a single path. Design/Methodology/Approach – Grounded on the resource-based view and contingency approach in management, an explanatory sequential research design was used. Using the PLS-SEM technique, quantitative data was collected and analyzed from 108 medium-scale agro-processing firms in the Philippines. A series of interviews was done after to validate quantitative findings and to show the practical manifestation of the variables. Findings – The influence of environmental hostility on export performance is not straightforward, and an indirect, multi-step mediating effect is made through the firm’s entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities. Most importantly, the firm’s dynamic capabilities were seen to be the missing link between the EO-export performance relationship, as it gives the better understanding as to why EO alone cannot always influence above-average export performance. Dynamic capabilities are essentially needed along the firm’s chain of operations, making dynamic capabilities a major antecedent of export performance. Research Implications – EO is responsible for converting threatening and hostile environmental effects into beneficial outcomes, such as enhanced dynamic capabilities. However, dynamic capabilities are responsible for the effective execution of operations that positively influence an above-average export performance. © 2022 International Academy of Global Business and Trade. All rights reserved.

Internal crisis communication strategies: Contingency factors determining an accommodative approach

Given the special relationship with employees, organizations should pay great attention to internal communication during crises. Drawing from the Contingency Theory of Conflict Management and the perspective of employees as active participants in crisis communication, this study proposes a “Contingency Theory of Internal Crisis Communication”. The study identifies and operationalizes three accommodative internal communication strategies: to create a sense of security, to sustain a sense of belonging and to activate employees as allies of the organization. Furthermore, it tests four contingency factors that influence the adoption of an accommodative approach in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis. Findings show the high relevance of the risk of decreased employee engagement, and the risk of employee health and safety;and a weaker relevance of the risk of reputational damage to the organization in the eyes of employees. The relevance of the risk of economic damage is not confirmed.

Factors Affecting City Image During the COVID-19 Era1

This study examined the perceived contingent factors that affect South Korean citizens’ image of the city they reside in. The respondents in this study perceived the image of their city through two dimensions––leading and safe––during the COVID-19 era. When respondents perceived the openness and expertise of the local government, the transformational and transactional leadership of the government leader, liberal political orientation of the leader, lower degree of law compliance of the mayor, high degree of citizenship, and high level of living infrastructure and competitiveness as attributes of the city, they were more likely to perceive the city as having a “leading” image. The perceived cultural characteristics of the local government, specifically the factor of hierarchy and regulation, the perceptions of citizenship, and all three variables regarding the perceptions related to city attributes (i.e., environmental, cultural, and living infrastructures and competitiveness) positively influenced the perception of a “safe” city image. Based on the results, various theoretical and practical implications were discussed in this study. © 2022, Center for Asian Public Opinion Research and Collaboration Initiative. All rights reserved.

Crisis management practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of a newly-opened hotel in Bali

The global COVID-19 pandemic—and the ensuing safety measures—has inflicted a debilitating blow against the lodging industry by transforming tourism patterns and discouraging travel. Guided by tourism disaster management framework and the contingency theory, this study attempts to explore the crisis management practices (CMPs) conducted by the leaders of a newly-opened hotel in Bali, Indonesia, during each phase of crisis. Through an interview with eight hotel executives, the findings of this study provide both theoretical and managerial implications for comprehending CMPs during the current circumstances. As the pandemic has not yet ended, a company that has reached the resolution phase may revert to the emergency phase, or worse. Therefore, this study also recommends considering the advantages of communication, contingency plans, open leadership styles, organization culture, past experiences, and business continuity as the principle tools with which to increase the chances of successful CMPs. These findings may also prove to be significant to other areas of the tourism sector beyond the hotel industry, as well as to other cultural tourism destinations outside of Bali.

The global economic cost of coronavirus pandemic: current and future implications

Purpose - The global economy is plagued by an unprecedented shock that has devastated economic growth under the coronavirus pandemic. The prolonged movement control orders, social distancing, and lockdowns have triggered the global economic downturn, disrupted the demand and supply chains, reduced the pool of workforce, and caused many jobs loss. This paper aims to analyze the global economic cost of the coronavirus pandemic, and its current and future implications. Design/methodology/approach - Based on contingency theory, this paper provides an in-depth analysis of the current situation on the global economic cost of the COVID-19 outbreak and gives insights from an organizational perspective. Findings - This paper found that the world has witnessed far-ranging economic consequences due to the coronavirus pandemic in four aspects: (i) decline in personal consumption;(ii) decline in the investments and stock prices in capital market;(iii) decline in government spending in developmental projects and increase in new borrowing;and (iv) decline of exports of goods to international markets. Originality/value - The novelty lies in investigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on micro and macroeconomic levels - the components of GDP, consumer behavior, business investments, government spending, and global exports. The paper suggests the need for urgent actions by the world leaders to oversee, anticipate, and manage the risks and cushion the economic consequences. It concludes that the flexibility and adaptability of leaders, effectiveness, workforce protection, efficient use of modern technology, including automation and artificial intelligence, would enhance the resilience of supply chains which will support organizations to sustain in this critical time.

Entrepreneurial marketing and bank performance in Egypt: is environmental turbulence a missing link?

PurposeCurrent research argues that there is a positive relationship between entrepreneurial marketing (EM) and business performance. However, this relationship has only been discussed in a relatively stable environmental situation and it is not clear whether such a relationship remains positive during environmental turbulence (ET) and whether organizations adopting EM activities during such turbulence, will change their behavior to enhance their performance. Thus, this study aims to examine the relationship between EM and the performance of Egyptian banks. Furthermore, building upon environmental contingency theory, this study examined the moderating role of ET on the relationship between EM and the performance of banks in Egypt.Design/methodology/approachData were collected during the period March–June 2020 using a sample of 358 employees working in 20 banks in Egypt. Online surveys and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the required data during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling using SPSS 25.FindingsThe main results of this study indicated that EM and bank performance are positively related. Results also showed that ET and technological turbulence positively moderates this relationship, i.e. this relationship is more robust in highly turbulent business environments than in more stable environments.Practical implicationsThis study provides useful managerial and practical implications. Fruitful insights can be communicated to bank managers in Egypt on the importance of EM and its implications for performance. With an increased understanding of EM, bank managers will come to understand that EM is critical for the sustainability and development of their banks.Originality/valueAn extensive review of the existing research material indicates that this is the first study to examine the relationship between EM and Egyptian banking performance and the moderating role of ET, particularly in large organizations.

A Contingency Theory Approach to Understanding Small Retail Business Continuity During COVID-19.

Small retail businesses are particularly vulnerable to turbulence caused from the COVID-19 pandemic. To consider what actions retailer owners/managers can take to maneuver during such trying times, this study investigated leadership qualities associated with managing during times of crisis. Through in-depth interviews with 12 small retail leaders, thematic data analysis revealed an emergence of contingent leadership, including an internal focus on cash flow and employees and an external focus on preserving key stakeholder relationships. Retail leaders displayed a resilient mindset, showing passion, agility, innovation, and relationship development. A conceptual model is proposed to further illustrate findings from the study.

Riding on the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in re-thinking organizational design: a contingency-based approach

Purpose: This paper aims to explore what organizational structural designs and strategies that organizations can seek to adopt so as to enable them to respond effectively to the post-COVID-19 environment conditions. It adopts the contingency theory, which asserts that organizational survival is dependent on the fit between organizational structures and contingencies. Furthermore, the paper applies Miles et al. (1978) typology of business strategy to study four strategic orientations that organizations can adopt in achieving better organizational performances. Design/methodology/approach: A framework of six strategic orientation archetypes is proposed that can support organizations in re-thinking their organizational structural designs for building up and strengthening resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors explore the influence of transactional leadership and transformational leadership and organizational culture on the adoption of strategic orientation. In addition, the authors developed six propositions. Findings: Organizations that have a prospector orientation tend to focus on creativity and innovation. Organizations that have a defender orientation tend to focus on reducing manufacturing and distribution costs and maintaining or improving product quality. Analyzers tend to be second-movers after prospectors making slower and fewer changes to their products. Originality/value: To the authors’ best understanding, this study is one of the first to explore the interrelationship between organizational structures, situational factors and strategic orientation. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in the contingency framework: Antecedents and consequences of public's stance toward the CDC.

This study applied the contingency theory of conflict management to examine how contingency factors influence the public's perceptual and behavioral responses to COVID-19 and stance toward the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In particular, we tested political ideology as an important individual characteristic variable to examine its roles in the contingency theory framework. The findings revealed that two situational variables (i.e., threat appraisal and attitudes toward CDC) positively influenced the public's contingency accommodation stance toward the CDC. Furthermore, greater conservatism was significantly associated with lower levels of threat appraisal and more negative attitudes toward the CDC, however it did not influence the stance toward the CDC. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.