Crisis challenges of small firms in Macao during the COVID-19 pandemic

Frontiers of Business Research in China

Table 3 First order analysis—Identification of patterns

Stage / Categories	Internal vs. External	Firm A	Firm B	Firm C	Firm D	Firm E	Firm F	Total
*Pre-crisis*
Planning	Internal	√	√	√			√	4
Testing	Internal		√	√			√	3
Signaling	Internal	√	√	√			√	4
Communication with employees	Internal	√	√	√		√	√	5
Documentation	Internal	√	√	√		√	√	5
Contingency plan	Internal	√	√	√		√	√	5
Monitoring	Internal		√	√		√	√	4
*During crisis*
Shorten operation hours	Internal	√	√	√	√	√	√	6
Flexible HR policy and employees’ stress management	Internal	√	√	√	√	√	√	6
Cost reduction	Internal	√	√	√	√	√	√	6
Reducing inventory	Internal	√		√			√	3
Exploring new products	Internal and External	√		√			√	3
Customer relation, advertising, discount promotion	External	√	√	√	√	√	√	6
Extending credit period with suppliers	External	√		√			√	3
Timely communication with employees	Internal		√	√	√	√		4
Investing in health and safety	Internal		√	√				2
Redecoration	External		√	√				2
Government loans	External	√			√			2
Investing in learning on crisis management	Internal	√	√	√		√	√	5
Investing in learning technology	Internal	√	√	√	√	√	√	6
Restoring public confidence	External	√	√	√	√	√	√	6
Diversification	Internal and external	√	√	√			√	4