A Study of the Capabilities in Management and Response of Organizations Established under a Special Act during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the management and crisis response capabilities of organizations established by special acts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focuses on qualitative methods to collect in-depth data through document analysis, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions from 9  organizations, selected by purposive sampling. The findings reveal that: 1) Organizations have preparedness plans and continuous management plans that can be promptly adjusted to respond to crisis situations; 2) Organizations have adapted their work processes by utilizing technology more extensively and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transformation towards digitalization for them; 3) Organizations have the flexibility to change their work practices, work from anywhere for example, as they are established by special royal decree, enabling them to adjust their practices to changing circumstances and challenges; 4) Organizations are capable of collaborating with networks because they have unique missions and tasks, resulting in diversity among their network members. Collaboration between different sectors is therefore a critical factor to achieve the goal and mission of organizations. However, organizations also face challenges in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, including problems with coordination and delays in working with external agencies, as well as budget constraints.