Under external pressure: action pathways when an adverse event forces micro-enterprises to change
研究微型企业在遭遇新冠疫情等不利事件时，如何根据损失类型采取不同行动路径，包括开放式、生存导向和发展导向三种类型，对理解小微企业危机应对有参考价值。
Purpose This study aims at developing an understanding of action pathways when adverse events force micro-enterprises to change their operations. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study draws upon empirical data collected from entrepreneurs facing the same adverse event—the COVID-19 pandemic—to build theory on different types of actions that micro-enterprises take and what leads up to these actions. Findings The findings suggest three types of action pathways. The first pathway is set off by losses stretched out over time and generates open-ended actions. The second pathway is set off by immediate losses and generates survival-oriented actions. The third pathway is set off by potential long-term losses and generates developmental-oriented actions. Originality/value This study offers novel insights into action pathways in response to adverse events, heterogeneity of such actions and processes that precede the choice of actions. It also expands the existing literature by showcasing actual actions instead of desired actions, which have already been extensively studied.