Abstract:

It is unclear what the future rules of entrepreneurship will be. The aim of this study is to reveal the methods employed by entrepreneurs to cope with the COVID-19 virus crisis and how effective these methods can be. The current COVID-19 virus epidemic has a profound impact on the world economy. Economic authorities and companies say that this epidemic will lead to the biggest crisis in world history. Even the theories that the virus is manipulated and desired to spread are a sign of how effective the impact of the crisis can be. This study, using the interview method, examined the general characteristics of entrepreneurs, how they behave in the face of the crisis and what measures they take to be less affected or not affected by the crisis. The research was attended by 15 entrepreneurs operating in the provinces of Istanbul, İzmir, Denizli, Bolu and Aksaray. The research data was obtained between April-May 2020. The study has shown that entrepreneurs are trying to ensure sustainability by minimizing their costs during the crisis period. Entrepreneurs emphasized technology investments during the COVID-19 crisis, making the use of technology more efficient. Research findings have reached that entrepreneurs in the epidemic period emphasized R&D activities, remote education, customer communication, advertising studies, appearance in various mechanisms for visibility, personal marketing. Another conclusion from the study is that entrepreneurs are focused on providing a competitive advantage with a lower profit margin, by implementing a steady growth strategy, providing a minimum cost.

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