Regionální odolnost na příkladu firem zpracovatelského průmyslu ve starých průmyslových regionech Česka

Abstract

The paper deals with the regional resilience based on the example of companies in the manufacturing industry in old industrial regions in Czechia. The aim is to evaluate how companies responded to the situation caused by the Covid-19 and to identify the most significant strategies that contributed to the resilience of companies during the pandemic crisis. Research was carried out through the collection of primary data obtained from interviews with managers of companies. Qualitative content analysis was used for the data evaluation and interpretation technique. Empirical findings point to the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic had an effect on the supplier-customer ties of companies. Companies whose suppliers are located at the European or global level had to establish relationships with suppliers at lower hierarchical levels. Companies whose customers are located at the local/regional were forced to reduce the volume of regional production. Manifestations of the pandemic have shown, in particular, a reduction of production, a change in supplier-customer ties, or the dismissal of employees. Strategies of companies are the change of product characteristics, the use of warehouse stocks, the reduction of the distance of supply chains, safety measures for workers, online marketing and financial resources from support subsidy programs.