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Impediments of COVID-19 pandemic and entrepreneurship development in an emerging economy’s SMEs

Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed, Bahadur Ali Soomro

Foresight

ISSN: 1463-6689

Article publication date: 16 December 2024

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Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected business and entrepreneurship activities worldwide. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing entrepreneurship development in an emerging economy’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers applied a quantitative approach to this study, which used cross-sectional data as the basis of its findings. The researchers used a questionnaire to obtain responses from general managers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) manufacturing industries.

Findings

Using structural equation modeling, the findings of the study suggest that, on the one hand, the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and perceptions about its arrival had a negative impact on entrepreneurship development. On the other hand, stress and anxiety had no significant effect on entrepreneurship development.

Practical implications

This study’s findings guide policymakers, KSA’s government agents and industry owners to adopt preventive measures to limit fear, stress and anxiety associated with the expected complications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings also offer better solutions to controlling severe disturbances to the economic and social entrepreneurship of vulnerable startup companies, various SMEs and large-scale companies.

Originality/value

This study’s results reveal the severe complications of the COVID-19 pandemic and its remarkably devastating impact on entrepreneurship development.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This study is supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [GRANT KFU241051].

Citation

Abdelwahed, N.A.A. and Soomro, B.A. (2024), "Impediments of COVID-19 pandemic and entrepreneurship development in an emerging economy’s SMEs", Foresight, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-06-2022-0063

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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