Dilek Zamantili Nayir

A cultural perspective on knowledge management: the success story of Sarkuysan company

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how effective knowledge management practices combined with a unique corporate culture have enabled the company Sarkuysan to cope with the challenges it has faced throughout the years and made it an extremely successful company.Design/methodology/approach – A company case was chosen to explain the influences of cultural determinants on the success of knowledge management. This objective was achieved by conducting several interviews with the top managers of the company.Findings – The findings of the article are, that effective knowledge management practices combined with a unique corporate culture can enable companies to instill a lasting knowledge management culture.Research limitations/implications – The article is based on a case study, which limits the possibility of making general conclusions. Whereas many studies discuss knowledge management primarily as an IT problem, this study focuses on the topic as a cultural issue.Practical implications – Mos...

The quasi-moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between rewards and knowledge shared and gained

– The purpose of this paper is to clarify the role of organizational culture and rewards in stimulating the sharing and gaining of knowledge. , – Hierarchical regression using survey data. , – The analyses show that rewards and organizational culture of knowledge transfer influence the knowledge shared and knowledge gained. Moreover, culture and rewards interact to influence knowledge gained, but not knowledge shared which leads to the conclusion knowledge gaining can be induced by rewards, even in the absence of a supportive culture. , – The findings are consistent with socio-technical theory (STT) and the discussion positions this perspective as useful for future knowledge management studies. This research confirms that knowledge sharing and gaining are uniquely different activities that respond differently to culture and rewards. , – This study combines the work of different fields by focusing on knowledge sharing and gaining in a single study. Through this process, a bridge between organizational learning theory and STT is revealed.

Procedural justice, participation and power distance: Information sharing in Chinese firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which procedural justice influences a managers decision‐making behaviour and the extent to which managerial values related to power‐distance moderates the relationship between participation in decision processes and procedural justice.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was conducted in this study. Dependent variables were the degree of participation in decision making and the degree of sharing information with subordinates. Independent variables were procedural justice and power distance.Findings – The findings suggest that procedural justice is related positively to encouraging initiatives and information sharing. The findings also indicate that power distance moderates the relationship between procedural justice and decision‐making behaviours. Although managers were inclined to share information with employees when they believed in procedural justice, high‐power‐distance values would weaken such a positive link.Resear...

Country image in the context of European Union membership: the Turkish case

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the opinions of owners/managers of Turkish furniture firms on country image effects of expected improvements in Turkeys democratic, economic, and political life resulting from Turkeys likely EU membership.Design/methodology/approach – Survey‐based empirical data are analyzed via multiple regression analysis.Findings – The paper finds that political and economic influences of EU negotiations will improve country image, whereas democratic influences will not have a significant effect.Research limitations/implications – The study is conducted in one industry and findings may not be generalizable. As opinions on country image are affected by discussions in the media or temporary situations between EU countries and Turkey, the study should be repeated at regular intervals. Official bodies need to make sure that reforms made in the democratic arena are well communicated to business communities. Also, business communities can promote implementation of democ...

The supplier perspective: forging strong partnerships with buyers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify three commonly observed mistakes made when managing suppliers and describe factors that contribute to successful buyer–supplier partnerships. Design/methodology/approach – Five extensive case studies in the automotive and clothing industry, as well as cases discussed in the literature, are analysed. Findings – Barriers to successful partnerships are a too strong emphasis on cost cutting and a too controlling management approach on the part of the buyer, and the abuse of insider knowledge for faking performances on the side of the supplier. Open communication, willingness to engage in mutual learning and encouraging innovations are observed in successful partnerships. Research limitations/implications – A limited number of case studies in the German automotive industry and the Turkish clothing industry are used. Both industries are subject to significant change which means that generalisations should be made with caution. Therefore, we discuss only problem...

How Formalization Hinders Different Firm Innovativeness Types: Opening the Black Box with Evidence from a Service Industry

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of organizational formalization on the behavioral, market, product, and process types of firm innovativeness as well as the interplay between these different innovativeness types. Based on data collected through a survey of the financial services industry in Turkey, the analyses show that formalization directly hinders both behavioral and market innovativeness. Moreover, as behavioral innovativeness influences product and process innovativeness, formalizations effect on these types of innovativeness are indirect. As expected, the study also finds that process innovativeness facilitates both product and market innovativeness and that product innovativeness foster market innovativeness. This study makes a contribution to the literature by examining the linkages between formalization in firms and the various firm innovativeness types, which have previously been studied only separately. The study thus provides a richer understanding of the relationship between formalization and firm innovativeness types.

Collective action against sexism in Germany, Turkey, and Japan: The influence of self-construal and face concerns

We suggest that self-construal and face concerns influence individuals’ collective action intentions against sexism. We examined female students from Germany (N = 105), Japan (N = 112), and Turkey, (N = 111), exposed them to a benevolent and a hostile sexism scenario, and compared their collective action intentions and indirect conflict management styles (avoiding, outflanking) within countries. As predicted, German and Turkish female students’ collective action intentions against sexism surpassed their intentions for indirect conflict management styles, whereas the reverse was true for Japanese female students. However, Japanese female students had an unaccomplished desire for collective action, suggesting that they wish to act but decide against open confrontation to maintain ingroup harmony. The higher individuals’ independent self-concept and the less they value face, the higher their collective action intentions against hostile sexism in all three countries. We discuss culturally appropriate ways of collective action.

From Refugee to Trader: In the Footsteps of Marco Polo

This chapter tells the story of Ali Dede, a 50-year-old Syrian refugee who is a former architect and who had to sell his home and business because of the outbreak of war. The circumstances of his flight to Turkey were both acute and anticipatory. Because of his familiarity with the Turkish language and since he had connections in his new country of origin, he has been able to help many of his friends who followed in his footsteps. His business is in the fabric and textile trade.

Gibt es eine Beziehung zwischen Organisationskultur und Risikovorkehrungen? Eine Studie in türkischen Unternehmen

Wahrend das Thema „Risikomanagement“ in fruheren Jahren eher als eine Art „Nebensache“ angesehen wurde, ist es heute zu einem Thema geworden, mit dem sich die Fuhrungsebene einer Organisation personlich beschaftigt. Studien zu diesem Themenbereich konzentrierten sich zunachst primar auf die finanzielle Perspektive und es handelte sich um ein Gebiet, mit dem sich Rechnungswesen- und Finanzexperten beschaftigten. In den letzten Jahren sind Studien zum Risikomanagement zunehmend auf den menschlichen Einfluss eingegangen und Verhalten in Organisationen wurde als einer der Schlusselfaktoren angesehen. Damit Risikomanagement erfolgreich sein kann, mussen alle Mitarbeiter bezuglich Risikovermeidung proaktiv handeln und die Organisationskultur muss ein solches Verhalten unterstutzen. In der vorliegenden Studie werden verschiedene Arten des Risikos, u.a. Terror-, Korruptions-, Technik- und Spionagerisiken eingehend betrachtet und es wird eine Verbindung zu unterschiedlichen Organisationskulturen hergestellt. Die Studie zeigt, dass die hochste Risikovorbereitung bei der Wettbewerbskultur und die niedrigste bei der Entrepreneurskultur besteht. Des Weiteren sind die Organisationen am besten auf Korruptionsrisiken und am wenigsten auf Terrorismusrisiken vorbereitet. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass bezuglich Organisationskultur und Risikoart die Beziehung zwischen der Wettbewerbskultur und Produktions- und Spionagerisiken am hochsten ist.