Size matters

: multi-level short- and long-term change dynamics in organizations responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

While crises can be disruptive, they can also be catalysts for development. When individuals and organizations face challenges, they adapt to navigate the environment and exit the situation as survivors. When this development is retained after the crisis, it contributes to learning and the organization's or individual's knowledge base in preparation for the next unexpected event. This approach aligns with the resilience perspective, which suggests that dealing with challenges buildsresilience. Thisthesisinvestigatesthe effects of challenges, the resulting need for change implementation, and the retention of organizations and individuals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations and individuals showed different levels of responses, indicating other variablesinfluencing thisrelationship. Consequently, thisthesis examines how firm size (measured in the number of employees) and market size (measured in the number of revenue) influence adaptation patterns and change retention during and after a crisis. Using a qualitative approach, with the addition of some quantitative data, the findings show a positive relationship between size and change implementation and retention. Larger firms and those serving larger markets demonstrate higher levels of change and retention. The analysis also detected an industry-specific effect impacting change patterns,so a deep dive into the healthcare industry was conducted to understand these dynamics. This thesis's findings have theoretical and managerial implications, showing that organizational characteristics, like size, influence change patterns in a crisis context. The findings highlight the need for managers to understand organizational and individual change patterns in building resilience and successfully navigating difficult conditions.

Date of Award	12 Feb 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ekin Ilseven (Supervisor)