A Fight to Survive Lockdown - A multiple case study on how firms in the hospitality industry have responded to the effects of Covid-19

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the theoretical dimensions of crisis management with an abductive approach using the Covid-19 pandemic’s effect on the hospitality industry as the main source for secondary as well as primary sources. Interviews were conducted in Sweden, Korea, and Hawaii to compare different firms' response to the ongoing crisis as well as governmental lockdowns. The Mayor of the county of Kauai was also interviewed to gain insight into the perspective and motivations behind the strictest of lockdowns. The results of this exploratory approach found that theory could be used as a conceptual framework (as was developed through this study) to better facilitate the functions of crisis management. Extremes of the varying degrees of lockdowns in the countries wherein interviews took place seemed to show more commonalities in crisis management rather than differences in behavior. The resilience of each firm and their potential ability to survive future crises is explored in this study; as well as structured theory based on past studies as well as primary sources.