Abstract
In times of uncertainty, new ideas, concepts and business solutions are born. The crisis caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a wide impact on the tourism sector, from small-scale to multinational companies. Based on an explanatory case study of a tourist guides venture, the paper seeks evidence on how conditions such as social capital, the use of information technologies and the application of new organizational solutions can support entrepreneurship at times of crisis. The paper provides insight into the functioning of Guides without Borders—a venture bringing together over 50 tourist guides. The research is based on the case study methodology supported by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Findings indicate that despite harsh times, social ties, trust and technology can leverage an organization. The research also confirms that the application of an innovative approach to the organizational structure and processes (in accordance with the concept of teal organizations) is beneficial at times of crisis. Thus, the organizational approach adapted by the studied organization can serve as an example for future tourist guides and other professionals’ undertakings in uncertain times.
Highlights
In times of uncertainty, new ideas, concepts and business solutions are born
The organization has been initiated in March 2020 by four guides of Polish origin residing in Spain and Portugal
The study investigated a tourist guide venture initiated in the uncertain times of the tourism industry crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
New ideas, concepts and business solutions are born. Based on an explanatory case study of a tourist guides venture, the paper seeks evidence on how conditions such as social capital, the use of information technologies and the application of new organizational solutions can support entrepreneurship at times of crisis. The research is based on the case study methodology supported by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The research confirms that the application of an innovative approach to the organizational structure and processes (in accordance with the concept of teal organizations) is beneficial at times of crisis. The organizational approach adapted by the studied organization can serve as an example for future tourist guides and other professionals’ undertakings in uncertain times. It is presumed that due to the pandemic major global economies will lose up to. Organization, 8.8% of global working hours were lost in 2020 relative to the fourth quarter of 2019, which corresponds to 255 million full-time jobs [2]
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