Title: Exploring the resilience development process by implementing the crisis strategic planning framework: a Swedish textile SME perspective

Authors: Rudrajeet Pal; Reimar Westerlind; Håkan Torstensson

Addresses: The Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås, Bryggaregatan 17, SE – 501 90 Borås, Sweden; Department of Material Science, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 589, FIN-33101, Tampere, Finland ' ACG Gruppen AB, Älvsborgsleden 7, Box 929, SE-50110, Borås, Sweden ' The Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås, Bryggaregatan 17, SE – 501 90 Borås, Sweden

Abstract: Global financial crises have affected the survivability of firms particularly the small and medium ones. Swedish textile-related SMEs were no exception as they showed a higher bankruptcy during the crises. In such a context, resilience development is vital. It is upheld by crisis management, business continuity management and strategic planning thus forming an integrated crisis strategic planning (CSP) framework. This paper highlights such a CSP framework along a six-step resilience development process by identifying environmental turbulences, developing leadership and capability analyses and multiple strategy development combining effective planning and adaptation. A Swedish SME is studied longitudinally to make a comparative analysis of the resilience development process in two crises. This involves practical use of CSP using simple strategic tools or techniques to improve responsiveness and preparedness in an integrated way. SME practitioners can identify the problems, their impacts, ensure competitive market positioning, and develop multiple strategies over a timeframe of development.

Keywords: crisis planning; crisis strategic planning; CSP; business resilience; small and medium-sized enterprises; textile SMEs; strategies; growth; business continuity management; BCM; Sweden; emergency planning; emergency management; crisis management; textile industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSRM.2013.057529

International Journal of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management, 2013 Vol.5 No.1, pp.1 - 34

Received: 08 Jan 2013
Accepted: 10 Apr 2013
Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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