Evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management strategy of innovative SME´s enterprises in the Czech Republic and Poland

ABSTRACT

Through a dynamic business environment, innovations are frequently transforming into a crucial determinant in improving and creating competitive advantage and the survival of an enterprise on the market. In times of pandemic, this trend is becoming increasingly apparent as various enterprises, especially SMEs, have been forced to modify the business model to survive. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the strategic management of innovation in SMEs in Poland and the Czech Republic, as two regions similar economically and historically. Through research in SMEs in both countries, the evaluation of the rate of change caused by a pandemic and the main problems in innovative business management were identified. Based on the obtained data, the surveyed companies were divided into four groups according to innovation potential, which will offer a further international comparison. © Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Strategic Management and its Support by Information Systems 2021, SMSIS 2021.