As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) expands its impact from China, expanding its catchment into surrounding regions and other countries, increased national and international measures are being taken to contain the outbreak. Humans are increasingly confronted with numerous forms of man-made and natural emergency situations. Emergency situations cannot be prevented, but they can be better managed. Successful management of emergency situations requires proper planning, guided response and well-coordinated efforts throughout the life cycle of emergency management. Literature suggests that emergency management efforts benefit from a well-integrated data-based emergency management information system. the latest advancements in the field of molecular and computational techniques and information and communication technologies (ICTs), artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data can help in handling the huge, unprecedented amount of data derived from public health surveillance, real-time epidemic outbreaks monitoring, trend now-casting/forecasting, regular situation briefing and updating from governmental institutions and organisms, and health facility utilization information. This perspective paper, proposing networks should work towards enhancing standardization protocols for increased data sharing in the event of outbreaks or disasters, leading to better global understanding and management of the same. This study can be adapted to help organiztions facing with the new normal in their organization.

Service interactions between providers and recipients have been widely discussed in previous studies. However, there is a dearth of research on interactions in the context of social service that support empowerment of marginalized groups in society. This gap must be addressed particularly when such service is taxpayer-funded that support poverty alleviation and increased inclusiveness for all in society. Hence, the objective of this study is to identify the dimensions of provider-recipient interaction in social service provided by the People’s Trust Council (MARA), the largest social organization in Malaysia. To achieve the objective of the study, the study adopted a triadic qualitative research methodology which involved interviews of both service providers and service recipients. The study’s research framework is built on the perspectives of service management, social organization and organizational life cycle model that emphasize the need for active interactions between providers and recipients to ensure effective delivery of service. The study identified fourteen dimensions of interaction in social service that support both development of SMEs and personal experience and development of knowledge of the service provider side. The findings of this study contribute to service management theory in the context of social service by emphasizing the development of SMEs as a process that should be supported by symbiotic provider-recipient interactions that evolve in line with the life cycle of the companies to ensure a more robust firm development.