The Impact of Digital Technologies on SMEs' Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This research paper aims to empirically analyse the impact of digital technologies and government support on the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic; in other words, how SMEs survive and manage the negative impact of the health situation with the support of digital technologies and government policy. A questionnaire survey was employed based on a sample of 96 SMEs and was divided into three parts, which comprised 28 questions. The SPSS software was used to analyse the results. The significant findings indicate that digital technologies positively affect SMEs' resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with public support. This implies that digital technologies help SMEs be resilient and ensure their survival in a unique and challenging environment. This study has practical implications for different stakeholders to evaluate risks in health emergencies, filling a significant research gap in the literature. Furthermore, this research paper can provide empirical results on the potential impact of digital technologies used by SMEs and the availability of government support to survive during the COVID-19 crisis.

Citation

Khalil, A., Bousselmi, H.e.W., El Amine Abdelli, M., Baccouche, I., Caridad y López del Río, L. and Nasr, H.E. (2022), "The Impact of Digital Technologies on SMEs' Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic", Chemma, N., El Amine Abdelli, M., Awasthi, A. and Mogaji, E. (Ed.) Management and Information Technology in the Digital Era (Advanced Series in Management, Vol. 29), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 111-126. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1877-636120220000029008