CRISIS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESSES IN WARTIME CONDITIONS

Abstract

The article examines business crisis management strategies in wartime, emphasizing their critical role in ensuring stability, adaptation, and development of enterprises in modern realities. War exerts a devastating impact on the economy, creating numerous challenges for businesses, including infrastructure destruction, supply chain disruptions, declining purchasing power, and labor shortages. In such circumstances, crisis management emerges as a vital tool for maintaining business operations. The authors analyze the theoretical foundations of crisis management and highlight the necessity of adapting existing approaches to the unique conditions of war. An analysis of the current state of businesses confirms that a significant proportion of enterprises suffer losses, facing high risks and low profitability. The authors justify the need to adapt business strategies to wartime conditions by identifying key stages and corresponding strategies: survival, stabilization, and growth. The article explores the distinctive features of each strategy and outlines the essential characteristics that crisis management strategies should possess during wartime. Special attention is paid to the flexibility, adaptability, and focus of such strategies on ensuring security, meeting customer needs, and supporting employees. Practical recommendations are proposed for businesses, tailored to the phases of war: from the initial "shock phase" to the post-war phase. Each phase presents specific challenges requiring tailored management approaches. The study identifies that in protracted wartime conditions, growth strategies prove most effective, focusing on development, innovation, entry into new markets, and expanding product offerings. The findings underscore the necessity of a strategic approach to business management in crisis conditions, enabling not only loss minimization but also the creation of a foundation for sustainable development in the post-war period. This article has a practical orientation and is intended for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and researchers in the fields of economics, management, and business strategy.