Navigating Turbulent Environments: Exploring Resilience in SMEs through Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective
Amirhossein Karamoozian
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Interesting subject, focusing on a case study rather unknown to most researchers. Well written article, well developed in its structure. Good command of English language. The research dimension was strong and well served. The point that could have been better explained is: why only infrastructure companies were examined? Aren't there construction companies undertaking residential projects financed by the EU or UNDP or Turkey? Or local companies in the sectors of energy, trade, tourism etc, where there are also chances of big projects being implemented? Is there any difference in the factors of their resilience conditions? Finally, is there any chance of cooperation of the Turkish Cypriot companies, formally or informally, with the related Greek Cypriot ones?
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Please ensure consistency in using different key terms.
The significance and innovation in the research problem should be explained.
The literature review should be enhanced by presenting a critical review and also use updated references from top journals such as:
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9925600
https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13058
https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/JPSEA2.PSENG-1324
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/er.8428
The managerial implications should be provided based on numerical results and findings. How would the manager be benefited from the findings of the study? What are the specific action plans based on the research findings?
Please edit the language to improve connectivity and readability.
Please edit the language to improve connectivity and readability.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper demonstrates interesting outputs to elaborate explanatory case study approach in North Cyprus but I have concerns about the content and the way of conceptualisation of the methodology for the study. Here are my concerns as follow:
1. The title doesn't reflect the main aim and objectives of the study. It is too lengthy and it has some grammatical errors.
2. Introduction section does not contain the novelty of the study or there is no clear justification on the identification of the research gap. What is the purpose of selection SMEs in Northern Cyprus? Please justify with an evidence-based theoretical framework in order to increase the credibility of the work.
3. Both in the introduction and literature review. I did not see any up-to-date references. I only detected two references published in 2019 , 2017 and 2014. Most of the references are out dated so that it requires major critical overview should be undertaken to identify the knowledge gap. There is no such a contribution to the knowledge due to the lack of literature review undertaken by the author.
4. In Section 3 (Methods), the author chose onlu single case study location to conduct the qualitative analysis. Actually, this is one of my main concern because of the fact that there is no any universal design approach background in order to make reliable generalisation of findings.
5. In Section 3.1 (Study participants). The selected population sample size insufficient. Could you please provide the statistical representativeness of population size selected for the study?
6. In methodology, the adopted methodology is not clear. Please use evidence-based theoretical framework.
7. In Section 4 (Results and Discussion). The thematic analysis of the interview transcripts are not conceptualised thoroughly. It requires more work to support the theoretical framework of the study.
8. Conclusion section should be re-written.
The paper requires professional English academic editing service.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
The article should be revised: the purpose of the study is not clear. The authors wanted to reveal how to use "Adaptive Systems" or show what strategies companies can use, or an analysis of sociological research that will allow something to be recommended.
The methodology is even more interesting: "A qualitative research methodology is concerned with meaning and is, therefore, one that is interested in understanding how people make sense of the world and how they experience events." This is a philosophical interpretation
Authors should clearly understand what they want to show
The level of English is adequate
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
1. Although the subject is mainly of local interest, the problem could be find in other area and region of the world. The research question could serve to similar researches, but from other industries/countries in the same situation.
2. The paper is well-structured and the analysis carried out is mainly descriptive. However, a quantitative evaluation could have increased the value of the research carried out.
3. There are some minor errors:
- Text editing overlays appear:
= some rows from table 1 are too high on the page and overlap the page number;
= Figure 5 is "wrapped" in the text (lines 653-654).
- The Figure 4 in the left panel - "Agancies" instead of "Agencies".
- The subtitle in line 373 begins with the word "the".
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Authors improved the revised version of the manuscript substantially.
Need to check with a native editor.
Reviewer 3 Report
The author has tried to address the issues of the manuscript but it has not been conceptualised within the expected quality. I haven't seen any information about proving the representativeness of the sample size for the interviews and the findings are not supported with the literature review to fulfil the knowledge gap.
The paper has to be proofread and edited by the professisonal English acadmeic service. There are many grammatical erros.
Reviewer 4 Report
The authors have done a lot of work on the article. All comments have been revised, meaningful details have been added, references have been revised and logical arguments have been given. A letter may be accepted by the publication
