Purpose

This paper aims to empirically investigate how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have engaged with international network partners during COVID-19 and how the crisis has changed network relationships and resilience depending on pre-COVID relationship strength and, secondarily, on opportunity outlook in a market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on 14 qualitative interviews with managers of New Zealand SMEs from diverse industries and four with industry experts. Rather than generalization, the aim of this exploratory paper is to identify contingency factors, which, under duress, strengthen or break business relationships.

Findings

Four main patterns emerge from the data, with respect to how SMEs engaged with network partners depending on the nature of their prepandemic relationships and the extent to which their markets had been affected by the pandemic. During crisis, weak ties either break or remain weak, forcing firms to create new, potentially opportunistic, relationships. Strong ties increase resilience, even under a negative outlook, as network partners support each other, including through the development of new ties. Strong ties can also accelerate business model transformation.

Research limitations/implications

Future large-scale research is needed to test the generalizability of the authors’ findings.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper indicate lessons for business continuation management and future preparedness for major disruptions. Specific insights may help stimulate managerial action to accelerate contingency planning and policy to support SMEs.

Originality/value

This paper is an early study on how weak and strong ties influence SME resilience during crisis.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19期间新西兰中小企业出口商的国际关系和弹性

目的

本文旨在通过实证研究在COVID-19期间中小型企业（SME）如何与国际网络合作伙伴互动，以及危机如何根据COVID之前的关系强度以及其次根据机会改变了网络关系和弹性。市场前景。

设计/方法/方法

本文对来自不同行业的新西兰中小型企业的经理进行了14次定性访谈，对行业专家进行了4次定性访谈。该探索性论文不是概括性的，而是旨在确定意外因素，这些因素在胁迫下会增强或破坏业务关系。

发现

从数据中可以得出四种主要模式，即中小企业如何与大流行病之间的关系以及大流行对市场的影响程度取决于其与网络合作伙伴之间的关系。在危机期间，脆弱的关系要么破裂，要么保持脆弱，迫使企业建立新的，潜在的机会主义关系。牢固的联系即使在负面的情况下也能提高弹性，因为网络合作伙伴会相互支持，包括通过发展新的联系而相互支持。牢固的联系也可以加速业务模式的转变。

研究局限/意义

需要未来的大规模研究来检验作者发现的一般性。

实际影响

本文的研究结果为业务连续性管理和重大破坏的未来防范提供了经验教训。具体的见解可能有助于刺激管理行动，以加快应急计划和支持中小企业的政策。

创意/价值

本文是关于在危机期间强弱关系如何影响中小企业弹性的早期研究。