COVID-19 wreaked havoc on public health and the global economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were hit especially hard. In this research note, we test the ability of dynamic capabilities (DCs) to predict SME performance during the pandemic. Based on our analysis of data from a survey conducted in the United States, we find that DCs meaningfully predicted both operational levels and revenue. Furthermore, while the empirical literature suggests that SME size is positively related to DC efficacy, we found that this effect was reversed during COVID-19, as the positive link between DCs and performance was stronger for smaller SMEs.
Keywords: COVID-19; SMEs; dynamic capabilities; small businesses.
© The Author(s) 2021.