Analyzing SME Responses to COVID-19 Disruption: A UK Perspective

This research project investigates the responses of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to analyze the strategies and measures implemented by SMEs to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, identify the challenges they faced, and provide recommendations for overcoming these challenges. The research employs a descriptive research design and qualitative methods, including thematic analysis of data gathered through questionnaires from 20 randomly selected SME companies. The project explores the implications of COVID-19 disruptions, evaluates the strategies adopted by SMEs, and seeks to understand the obstacles encountered during this period, ultimately aiming to contribute to a better understanding of SME resilience and adaptation in the face of unforeseen crises.

RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
FORM A
For all Undergraduate/Postgraduate Dissertations and
Research Projects
Please fill in this form, then SAVE IT AS A PDF and submit as instructed by your
supervisor with your project proposal
Your name: (first) ……………………… (last) ………………………
Student number: …………… Your email address:

PROJECT DESCRIPTON
Please answer the following questions:
1. Do you intend to involve human participants in the conduct of your research?
If no, please skip questions 2 & 3.
☐ Yes ☐No
2. Does your research involve vulnerable adults or under-18s?
☐ Yes ☐No
3. Could your research potentially expose you, anyone assisting you, or
participants to emotional harm?
☐ Yes ☐No
4. Will your research involve travelling to geo-politically unstable
regions/countries (e.g. areas affected by war, civil unrest, natural disasters, or
listed as unadvisable to travel by the UK government?
☐ Yes ☐No
5. Will your research involve access to security-sensitive material? If yes, you
must include a data management statement.
☐ Yes ☐No
This proposal must be completed with the assistance of your supervisor. You
can change the size of the boxes (below) by typing or deleting as necessary.
It is very important to convey with clarity:
• Your research questions/the problem/the theme or topic you are investigating
(what you are proposing to do and to find out or to create)
• The methodology or technical approach (for projects comprising in whole or
in part the creation of an artefact) you will adopt – methods, number of
participants, who the participants (if any) will be, survey instruments used
technology and equipment employed etc.; and what questions you are
planning to ask your respondents (if applicable); how you will deal with
technical challenges.

Title of project 'To investigate the response of small and medium sized enterprises to COVID19
disruption implications for the United Kingdom UK '
____________________________________________________________________________
Name of researcher(s) _____________________________________Email
Name of supervisor _____________________________Date:________________________
WHERE APPROPRIATE TO YOUR CHOSEN TOPIC/RESEARCH: YES NO N/A
1 Will you describe in writing the main procedures to participants in
advance, so that they are informed about what to expect? A copy of
this must be attached to this application
✓
2 Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary? ✓
3 Will you obtain written consent for participation and include within this
that they have a right to withdraw at any point? A copy of this must be
attached to this application
✓
4 If the research is observational, will you ask participants for their
consent to being observed?
✓
5 With questionnaires, will you give participants the option of omitting
questions they do not want to answer?
✓
6 Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full
confidentiality and that, if published, it will not be identifiable as
theirs? This should be evidenced in the consent form and with a
signed copy of UWL’s data management form, attached to this
application.
✓
7 Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e. give
them a brief explanation of the study)? A copy of this must be
attached to this application
✓
If you have ticked No to any of Q1-7, but have ticked box A overleaf, please give an
explanation on a separate sheet.
[Note: N/A = not applicable]
YES NO N/A
8 Will your project involve deliberately misleading participants in any
way?
✓

9 Is there any realistic risk of any participants experiencing either
physical or psychological distress or discomfort? If Yes, give details
on a separate sheet and state what you will tell them to do if they
should experience any problems (e.g. who they can contact for help).
✓
If you have ticked Yes to 8 or 9, you should normally tick box B overleaf; if not, please
give a full explanation on a separate sheet
YES NO N/A
10 Does your project involve work with animals? If yes, please tick
box B overleaf.
✓
11 Do participants fall into any of
the following vulnerable
groups? If they do, please and
tick box B overleaf.
Note that you may also need
to obtain satisfactory DBS
clearance (or equivalent for
overseas students).
Schoolchildren (under 18 years of
age)
✓
People with learning or
communication difficulties
✓
Patients ✓
People in custody ✓
People engaged in illegal
activities (e.g. drug-taking)
✓
Any other groups who could be
reasonably argued as
representing any form of
vulnerability – please specify
✓
12 Will you be accessing materials which may be considered security-
sensitive under the Counter Terrorism Act (2015)?
✓
There is an obligation on the researcher to bring to the attention of the School Ethics Panel any
issues with ethical implications not clearly covered by the above checklist.
PLEASE TICK EITHER BOX A OR BOX B BELOW AND PROVIDE THE DETAILS REQUIRED
IN SUPPORT OF YOUR APPLICATION. THEN SIGN THE FORM.
Please tick
A. I consider that this project has no significant ethical implications to be brought
before the School Ethics Panel.
✓
B. I consider that this project may have ethical implications that should be brought
before the School Ethics Panel, and/or it will be carried out with children or other
vulnerable populations.
I have received guidance on ethical research practices relevant to my subject as part of
my preparation for this module.

Signed ___________________________ Print Name ______________________ Date
_______________
(UG Researcher(s))
Signed ___________________________ Print Name ______________________ Date
_______________
(Supervisor)

PART 2
SPECIFICATIONS OF PROJECT
Please answer the following question:
1. Do you intend to use only secondary data in the conduct of your research?
☐ Yes ☐No
Introduction to the research
Background to research topic area (with references where applicable). 200 words approx.
Include Aims and Hypothesis, Research Question(s) of the dissertation/project.
The current COVID 19 has affected the working of the economy and whole world to a
great extent. This pandemic affected the SME to a great extent because these companies
have less financial capability and this affected the working efficiency to a great extent.
thus, the current study will outline the response of SME towards the impact of pandemic.
Aim
To analyse the response taken by SME with respect to COVID 19 disruption implication.
a study on UK.
Objectives
To develop understanding relating to COVID 19 disruption and implication over SME.
To evaluate the strategy and responses taken by SME for dealing with implication of
COVID 19.
To identify the challenges faced in operating by SME due to COVID 19
To recommend some of the strategies for overcoming the impact of COVID 19
Research question
What is the concept and implication of disruption of COVID?
What are the various strategy and responses being undertaken by SME to reduce effects of
COVID?
What are the challenges being faced by SME and its operation due to pandemic?
What are the different recommendations to overcome the impact of pandemic?
Method
Outline all methodological issues - e.g. Design, participants, questionnaires, tests,
method of data collection. Who are you working with? How? What Measures? What
interventions/manipulations? What controls? If your research entails exclusively the
consultation of published documents, books, articles or other work in the public domain
please state this under the heading ‘materials’.
Research design

In the present case of response of SME towards COVID 19 will involve the use of
descriptive research design. This will be used as it involves deeper analysis of research
objectives and will assist in attainment of objective of study.
Participants (where applicable)
In the successful completion of the project, the participant will include the SME
companies and the number will be 20 which will be selected on basis of random sampling
method.
Materials (to include locations and resources)
The data will be gathered with help of questionnaire and then the data gathered will be
evaluated on basis of thematic analysis.
Analysis
CLEARLY describe the method of analysis you are going to use. Is it qualitative or
quantitative?
The method will involve the use of qualitative research study and this will be used
because it will assist the researcher in developing in- depth knowledge relating to the fact
that how SME responded to impact of COVID.