Ecosystems, strategy, and resilience: Four empirical cases in the COVID-19 crisis

• Published in: Journal of engineering and technology management Vol. 67; p. 101734
• Main Authors: da Paixão de Oliveira, Wesley, Neves Guimarães, Márcia Regina, Azevedo Ramos da Silva, João Eduardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Innovation ecosystems. Competitive strategy. Pandemic. Startups. Small and medium enterprises; Innovation ecosystems. Competitive strategy. Pandemic. Startups. Small and medium enterprises
• ISSN: 0923-4748; 1879-1719; 0923-4748
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jengtecman.2023.101734

The pandemic pushed companies to rethink competitive strategies and the innovation ecosystem structure. Then, we studied four small organizations from different industries through interviews, observations, and documentation. We offer five key findings: First, the crisis affected the cases in distinct ways, benefiting those in the healthcare sector. Second, innovation ecosystems provided opportunities for digitalization to keep businesses running. Third, resilience and initiative from the ecosystem leaders were crucial in responding to the crisis. Fourth, shifts in competition and cooperation favored survival. Lastly, the competitive strategy and ecosystem goals set before the pandemic have not changed, but how to achieve them.
•Four companies were evaluated on their strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic.•The pandemic affected organizations in different ways, even benefiting some of them.•Innovation ecosystems helped participating companies overcome the COVID-19 crisis.•The pandemic did not change the companies’ goals, but the way to achieve them.•Intellectual platforms and digital solutions were used to keep business running.