Change on relational capital during systemic crises: Evidence from the agri-food sector
The recent pandemic has changed the reference context of companies and imposed significant changes on them to react to the crisis and contain its effects.
The purpose of the paper is to analyse the organizational, managerial, and relational changes small and medium-sized enterprises face during the COVID-19 pandemic and also the support offered by relational capital.
The authors aim to identify possible strategies for resilience that can be applied at a macro-economic level. To achieve the research objectives, a qualitative method based on the analysis of two Italian agri-food companies is used.
This approach is according to the interpretative model of CAOS (characteristics, environment, organization, survival/resilience) (Paoloni, 2011; 2021). CAOS is part of strategic management studies dedicated to relational capital.
vThe findings show that the pandemic has changed the behaviour and habits of individuals and businesses, that it has dematerialized the concept of the company, and that it has brought about new roles and responsibilities.
Keywords: Resilience, Relational capital, COVID-19, Agri-food, Digital innovation, CAOS.
