Ingirige, Bingunath, Jones, Keith and Proverbs, David (2008) Investigating SME resilience and the adaptive capacity to extreme weather events: literature review and synthesis. In: Haigh, Richard and Amaratunga, Dilanthi, (eds.) CIB International Conference on Building Education and Research - Building Reslience. School of the Built Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK, pp. 582-593. ISBN 9781905732364

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Abstract

In the UK, extreme weather events (EWEs) such as floods, heat waves and storms are
increasing in frequency and severity. The ability of local communities to cope with the
immediate impact and recover from the aftermath is critical to the continued well-being of the
community that is affected. As part of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
(EPSRC) funded projects we investigate how Small and medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs),
prepare themselves for the effects of EWEs. SMEs constitute a substantial proportion of the
community that is affected as a result of these events. They need to prepare themselves for the
effects of EWEs in a way that minimises disruption to them and allows them to return to near
normal working conditions as soon as possible after an event. Very few studies have examined
how SMEs respond to EWEs. Policy makers and theorists in this field have proposed various
models and frameworks to improve the adaptive capacities of SMEs by concentrating on
identification of risks and opportunities coupled with strategy development and implementation.
Their individual and collective attitudes influence the activities that SMEs perform towards
preparation of disaster preparedness plans and post disaster recovery measures. The paper
argues that this continuous process of engaging SMEs will develop their adaptive capacities and
enhance their coping measures in facing up to the risk of extreme weather events. The paper
provides a literature review and a synthesis and a methodological vehicle to guide this research.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	This paper forms part of the proceedings from the CIB W89: International Conference on Building Education and Research - Building Resilience (BEAR 2008), held 11-15 February 2008, Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	SME, extreme weather events, coping skills, adaptive capacity, built environment
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Architecture, Design & Construction School of Architecture, Design & Construction > Sustainable Buildings Research Group
Related URLs:	Publisher Organisation
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2016 09:15
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/5876

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