Designing a Resilience Model of Collaborative Networks under Coronavirus Outbreak (Case study: Resalat social development network)

Similar to any natural disaster, effects of Covid-19 virus outbreak are unpredictable in nature; therefore, it is of significance to be ready to react to uncertainties swiftly and efficiently. While collaborative networks can be effective in crisis management, they themselves are affected by the effects of the crisis and, often, their operational level may decline; therefore, they need to possess necessary capabilities to survive. The aim of this study is to design a resilience model of collaborative networks with emphasis on network management system under a real crisis, namely the outbreak of coronavirus. Given the complexity of the problem and the involvement of multiple stakeholders, this study applied soft systems methodology to analyze the whole problem. After reviewing related data, interviewing the informants, and drawing a rich picture of the current situation, the network leadership resilience model was formulated using the complementary method of total interpretive structural modeling. The results of the comparison between the rich picture and the presented model showed that the dynamic capabilities of such networks represented the cornerstone of the network resilience model. Accordingly, a number of structural proposals were made in order to increase the resilience of collaborative networks during the outbreak of the virus and the post-corona world.