Resilience in a Challenging Environment: Employees’ Views on Robustness, Agility and Integrity of SMEs in Sindh, Pakistan

Purpose: SMEs are drivers of economic growth and potent of prosperity, but they face numerous challenges because of their vulnerabilities and uncertain situations. To identify the challenges faced by SMEs, relevant literature was reviewed. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study probes into the SMEs resilience in Sindh province by soliciting perspective of SMEs employees. A survey was conducted in Hyderabad and Karachi through a closed-ended questionnaire, and analysis was done on SPSS in terms of descriptive statistics and t-test. Findings: Findings reveal that SMEs lack organizational reliance and have resilience issues in terms of their agility and integrity. SMEs need strategic planning for innovation, holistic human resource development, technology adoption, financial sustainability, contingency planning, effective networking. Implications/Originality/Value: Future research is suggested for investigating the different types of organizational resilience, i.e. cultural or psychological resilience, financial resilience, technological resilience, and environmental & social resilience.