Crisis management of small and medium-sized businesses

The article is devoted to topical issues of modern anti-crisis management. The dynamics of starting and stopping the activities of small and medium-sized businesses have been studied. It was determined that during the first months of the full-scale war, most small and medium-sized enterprises were able to adapt, resume activities, and even develop. Popular sectors of the economy and regional features of starting a new business in wartime conditions are analyzed. The results of studies of the business activity of small and mediumsized businesses and the preferences of managers regarding the continuation of activities in the conditions of a full-scale war and post-war reconstruction are considered. It was determined that most managers are determined to continue developing the business. The article examines the main factors of the external and internal environment of the enterprise that cause crisis phenomena at the current stage of development. An analysis of the directions of deformation of the labor market, gender discrimination, and the structure of the unemployed was carried out. The modern and historical causes of the demographic crisis in Ukraine and the personnel shortage have been identified. An overview of the results of research on business activity, the quality of employment, and intentions to return Ukrainian refugees to their homeland was carried out. To date, the situation regarding the demographic condition and staffing of enterprises is critical. To date, the situation regarding the demographic condition and staffing of enterprises is critical. Despite the personnel deficit, shadow employment is observed in Ukraine, which causes a decrease in tax revenues to the budget and insecurity of employees. An analysis of the main reasons that hinder the recovery and development of small and medium-sized businesses was carried out. The main components of high-quality anti-crisis management are determined: the appropriate level of qualification of management personnel, a thorough and systematic analysis of the market situation and internal destabilizing factors, forecasting the development of events, efficiency, and flexibility in management. Despite all the difficulties, the crisis is not only a risk, but also a «litmus test to identify weak points in the company's activities, the possibility of a non-standard approach to solving issues, the implementation of bold and innovative solutions and seeing the situation from a new angle. For strong managers, the crisis is the driver that forces them to leave their «comfort zone and look for new opportunities, often in such conditions» market leaders are born.