D21 - Firm Behavior: TheoryReturn

This paper uses the Malmquist Productivity Index to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hotel productivity. It decomposes total factor productivity change (TFPC) into technical efficiency, pure and scale efficiency, and technical change to conclude on productivity growth before and after the outbreak of the pandemic. 112 hotels in four cities of the United States between 2011–2021 were subject to the analysis, using a multi-input (room, labor, and F&B costs) multi-output (accommodation, F&B, and total revenue) DEA-Malmquist model. The pandemic did not have an adverse effect on hotel productivity change, mainly due to the developments attributed to technological advancements. The paper offers crucial managerial implications. The results of the analysis emphasize the prominence of investment in technology to sustain productivity levels. It supports managers with strategy development and offers decision makers a wider overview of the sector.

Small firms are faced with the challenges of competing with larger firms. This has given birth to utilising different strategies to enhance the small firms’ capacity to achieve their corporate goals. This study examines the nature of coopetition among small firms and how it has influenced their ability to create value. Employing the survey research design, the study sampled 1119 small firms and established the interaction between coopetition and value creation in small firms using the partial least square-structural equation model. The results reveal entrepreneurial orientation is the most prevalent type of coopetition among small firms and that coopetition is a significant driver of value creation among small firms. The study recommends that small firms should integrate coopetition into their strategy to remain relevant, increase their revenue, customise their services through value-added services and create new products and services.