The Covid-19 crisis has hit SMEs particularly hard. Numerous business models (BM) have been limited or rendered downright impossible due to decreased social contact. SMEs can respond to this exogenous crisis via temporary business model innovation (BMI). This empirical study investigates these temporary BMs using a multiple case study approach based on five SMEs in Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein who within a short period of time applied their core competencies and networks to integrate new BMs, which were in some cases very different from existing ones. These had a positive effect on strategic flexibility, and if desired can also be incorporated into the firm long-term. The paper contributes to SME crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic by pointing out and developing a successful management mechanism that allows to survive a crisis or even improve during this time. Moreover, we contribute to BMI literature by explaining temporary BMI as a new form of BMI. It also makes clear to managers that temporary BMs add value to firms and create new revenue streams.

中文翻译：

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临时商业模式创新——中小企业对 Covid-19 危机的创新应对

Covid-19 危机对中小企业的打击尤为严重。由于社会接触减少，许多商业模式 (BM) 受到限制或完全不可能。中小企业可以通过临时商业模式创新（BMI）来应对这种外生危机。本实证研究使用基于奥地利、德国和列支敦士登的五家中小企业的多案例研究方法调查这些临时 BM，这些中小企业在短时间内应用其核心能力和网络来整合新的 BM，在某些情况下与现有的。这些对战略灵活性产生了积极影响，如果需要，也可以长期纳入公司。该论文通过指出和开发一种成功的管理机制来帮助在 Covid-19 大流行期间进行中小企业危机管理，该机制允许在此期间度过危机甚至有所改善。此外，我们通过将临时 BMI 解释为一种新的 BMI 形式来为 BMI 文献做出贡献。它还向管理人员表明，临时 BM 可以为公司增加价值并创造新的收入来源。