Developing a Paradigm Model for Resilience of Rural Entrepreneurial Businesses in Dealing With the COVID-19 Crisis; Application of Grounded Theory in Western of Iran

Abstract

Pandemic the COVID-19 is a global threat to rural entrepreneurial businesses with an uncertain ending. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a paradigm model to reduce the negative effects of this crisis, increase the resilience of rural entrepreneurial businesses or even turn this threat into an opportunity for the development of rural entrepreneurial businesses in the long run. This study, using a qualitative approach, investigated the resilience of rural entrepreneurial businesses in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Kermanshah province using a paradigm model. Using purposeful and theoretical sampling, 26 cases were selected. The tools used for data collection were open questionnaires (unstructured), individual depth interviews, and taking notes. The results provide a relatively comprehensive model that consists of six basic parts: causal conditions (included economic management, health factors, human resources management, and adaptation factors), the phenomenon (included low resilience of rural entrepreneurial businesses in the face of the COVID-19 crisis), contextual conditions (including social factors; cultural factors and psychological factors), interventing conditions (included business management and legal supports), action strategies (included Planned resilient actions and Unplanned resilient actions), finally, the consequences (included adapting to crisis conditions and increasing resilience in the long run, and also lack of adaptation to crisis conditions and lack of continuity of business survival in the long run). In general, rural entrepreneurial businesses in the face of crisis must, through planned resilience measures, both increase their business resilience in the short term, as well as develop the business and gain a competitive advantage in the long run. Finally, based on the findings and in order to developing resilience in rural entrepreneurial businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, some recommendations were presented.

Comprehensive motivational framework to drive paddy farmers towards pluriactivity

“…While the decline of some rural societies has become an obvious process in the world, the promotion of rural resilience plays a major role in sustainable rural development 40 . Rural areas as the center of agricultural production in developing countries, including Iran, play an essential role in ensuring food security and as a result, independence of related countries 41 , 42 . It should be noted that unbalanced policies in favor of urban areas in some countries could cause a difference in the standard of living in urban and rural areas, and this issue has sloped urban–rural relations and intensified rural decline in the long term 40 .…”

“…It should be noted that unbalanced policies in favor of urban areas in some countries could cause a difference in the standard of living in urban and rural areas, and this issue has sloped urban–rural relations and intensified rural decline in the long term 40 . Rural areas have plenty of economic potentials in which recognizing their entrepreneurial opportunities and subsequently a proper program planning for these regions could generate a dynamic and diverse economy in mentioned territories 41 . One of the most significant strategies for applying these potentials is Pluriactivity 43 .…”

Entrepreneurial mindfulness and organizational resilience of Chinese SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of entrepreneurial resilience

“…Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, enterprises have been afflicted chronically, which inevitably places tremendous pressures on entrepreneurs. Studies have demonstrated the positive link between entrepreneurial resilience and performance ( Castro and Zermeño, 2020 ; Maritz et al, 2020 ; Nyikos et al, 2021 ; Purnomo et al, 2021 ; Mohammadifar et al, 2022 ).…”

When to become an electronic business venture after the COVID-19 pandemic? The role of strategic orientation and perceived environmental turbulence in determining online market entry timing

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted some industries, but it has also brought significant opportunities to new industries and new business models (1)(2)(3). According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, despite the easing of restrictions in many countries, e-commerce activities have been largely fueled by the pandemic, resulting in a marked online sales increase (4).…”