Du Toit, A.C. (Andria)Pretorius, Marius2024-01-242024-01-242023-08Du Toit, A.C. & Pretorius, M., 2023, ‘Investigating tensions experienced by decision-makers during a business rescue event’, Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management 15(1), a714. https://DOI.org/10.4102/sajesbm.v15i1.714.2522-7343 (print)2071-3185 (online)10.4102/sajesbm.v15i1.714http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94086DATA AVAILABILITY : Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this studyBACKGROUND : Practice has shown that decision-makers experience various tensions during a business rescue event, which adds to the complexity of their decision-making. Even though business rescue has been operational for more than a decade, decision-makers require training and development beyond the scope of the legal and finance realms to cope with the related tensions. AIM : This study endeavoured to report on the tensions experienced by decision-makers, classify them into puzzles, dilemmas, trade-offs and/or paradoxes, and to identify practical responses to the most commonly experienced tensions. SETTING : The study was conducted in South Africa and made use of decision-makers in the field of business rescue. METHODS : An interpretative phenomenological analysis was completed using 12 exceptionally experienced decision-makers. A multi-method approach was employed using in-depth interviews and follow-up questionnaires, validated with the literature after the completion of a pre-test. RESULTS : Findings reported 16 major tensions, consisting of one puzzle, two dilemmas, four trade-offs and nine paradoxes with appropriate responses used in practice by participants. CONCLUSION : Significant findings include the differentiation in response to tensions based on the level of sophistication of stakeholders involved, the implementation of a team approach to decision-making and the use of empathy to decrease tension. CONTRIBUTION : An insider’s perspective is provided into tensions experienced during a business rescue event, which may assist in the training of novice decision-makers. Participants used anecdotal evidence to verbalise their approaches and/or strategies to managing tension, which can be dissected and used to collate shared practice among decision-makers.en© 2023. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Business rescueTensionPuzzlesDilemmaTrade-offParadoxResponseArticle