Creating hospitable service systems for refugees during a pandemic: leveraging resources for service inclusion

Abstract

Purpose

The overarching goal of this paper is to increase awareness among researchers and practitioners that refugees are disproportionally impacted by COVID-19, which increases their suffering. Second, it extends a recently introduced transformative refugee service experience framework by integrating and conceptualizing refugees' resource and service inclusion during a pandemic. Third, it explores lessons learned and implications from the COVID-19 pandemic for the future of service research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This study synthesizes approaches on refugees, resources and transformative service research to develop an extended framework for addressing one of society's pressing issues during and after pandemics.

Findings

Recognizing refugees as providing resources rather than just needing or depleting resources can enable more inclusion. It facilitates refugees' integration into society by drawing on their skills and knowledge. This requires hospitable refugee service systems that enable service inclusion and opportunities for refugee resource integration.

Research limitations/implications

This article focuses on one vulnerable group in society. However, the extended framework presented warrants broader application to other contexts, such as subsistence marketplaces.

Practical implications

Managers of service businesses and public policymakers should create more inclusive and hospitable service systems for refugees. This may result in redesigning services, changing consumer behavior and reformulating public policy.

Social implications

Better inclusion and integration of refugees and their resources should increase their individual well-being, reduce social issues in society, increase overall societal well-being and productivity.

Originality/value

This article presents a novel extended framework for service scholars and service providers to increase resource and service inclusion of refugees in a disaster context.

Citation

Finsterwalder, J., Kabadayi, S., Fisk, R.P. and Boenigk, S. (2021), "Creating hospitable service systems for refugees during a pandemic: leveraging resources for service inclusion", Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 247-263. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTP-07-2020-0175