Operational Challenges of Small Enterprise Owners in Novaliches, Quezon City During COVID-19 Pandemic

Vol.3, No.1C

Abstract

On a national, regional, and global scale, COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has significantly influenced people's lives and corporate activities. The Philippines took swift action to battle the virus and mitigate its effects. A Business’ planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling faces significant challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also impacts a business’ product prices, number of customers, number of customer purchases, and business income. This study aims to know how the COVID-19 pandemic affects Small Enterprise owners in Novaliches, Quezon City, causing challenges to their business operations. The researchers used a descriptive design, survey questionnaire method, and convenience sampling for this study to gather information from the respondents. The study's respondents were 50 selected small enterprise owners from Novaliches, Quezon City. The selected respondents are those small enterprise owners who experienced operational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Based on the results of the study, the proposed intervention that can help small enterprise owners cope with operational challenges and difficulties experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic addressed the above-cited factors and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses in terms of (1) the Price of Products - In markets with increasing volume and price pressure, the right pricing approach is essential to remain competitive. It helps small enterprise owners by bringing them the value they deserve for their products and services and securing the profits they need to invest in change and growth. (2) Number of Customer Purchases – Business owners learn how to build a better relationship with customers by knowing and understanding them. Knowing your customers better because only they can help you get more leads and more business. Understanding customers is the key to giving them good service, resulting in strong customer relationships and new sales through positive word-of-mouth recommendations. The researchers recommend that small enterprise owners better know how their businesses operate. They should also know why raw materials, equipment, and machinery prices increased. The Government must implement some consideration for the small enterprise owners. Lastly, future researchers must conduct more studies on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects small enterprise owners, leading them to operational challenges.