COVID-19 and management models in SMEs of the energy industry

The pandemic scenario caused by Covid-19 generated negative impacts in several countries, being one of the greatest disasters in recent years, not only related to health systems but also the economy. As a result, Brazilian energy companies were negatively affected, especially micro and small companies that have a large share of the country’s GDP and do not have, for the most part, structured management models and crisis management programs. Given this context, the present paper aimed to promote a discussion on how the best-structured management models influence the passage and survival of this category of companies in times of crisis and, thus, discuss how micro and small energy enterprises could react to the crisis caused by the coronavirus. After a process composed of searches for theoretical support already consolidated, reflections promoted evidence that a possible “way out” for the energy industry’s micro and small enterprises is flexibility in decision-making, focusing on understanding customers’ needs, and greater adherence to technology.