Fulya Sarvan

An analysis of managerial competency needs in the tourism sector: the case of Turkey.

One of the ways of improving organizational performance is to focus on individual performance and to analyze the knowledge and skills needs for effective job performance. Relevant literature suggests that needs should be studied as gaps in competencies. This study reports findings from data relating to the perceptions of middle‐level managers about the importance and current state of managerial competencies in the tourism sector. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in the hospitality facilities in Antalya, the so‐called capital city of tourism on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Respondents were asked about the importance and also present level of managerial competencies (technical and generic) required for effective job performance. Gaps were measured by subtracting the importance value ascribed to the competency from the value ascribed to the present competency level. The objective of this replication exercise was to adhere as closely as possible to the methodology and instruments used by Agut and Grau to facilitate direct comparison.

Emergence and Spread of an All-Inclusive System in the Turkish Tourism Sector and Strategic Responses of Accommodation Firms

This study investigates the effect of environmental pressures on the emergence and spread of the all-inclusive system (AIS) in the Turkish tourism sector, and the strategic responses given by accommodation firms in the Antalya region. Accommodation firms face pressures from external actors (institutional perspective), while also being dependent on other organizations (resource dependence perspective) in ensuring the smooth performance of their activities under the conditions of high environmental uncertainty. An integrated perspective of neo-institutional theory and resource-dependence theory is employed to examine the national, institutional and organizational contexts that are assumed to be influential in the emergence and spread of AIS, with both qualitative and quantitative research methods being used. The major findings of the study indicate that economic and political changes in the national context; coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures in the institutional context; and strategic responses of accommodation firms to environmental pressures in the organizational context have been influential in the emergence and spread of AIS. The study concludes with a summary of the theoretical and practical implications, and suggestions for future research.

Impact of multilevel strategic alliances on innovation and firm performance: Evidence from the yacht-building industry in Turkey

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the configuration of network ties that would have a positive impact on performance outcomes and test the presumed impact of multilevel strategic alliances on innovation and firm performance in a specific industry. Design/methodology/approach This study comprises part of a larger project on the network relations of yacht-building firms operating in Turkey. Data of the study was collected through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires with 143 yacht-building firms operating in major yacht-building regions of the country. Findings The findings of the study indicated the presence of meaningful relationship between total number of (strong) network relations perceived as strategic alliance and overall innovation performance. The generally presumed positive relationship between innovation performance and firm performance was supported. The type of innovation performance that was found to be related to the total number of network ties perceived as strategic alliance at national and global levels was product innovation performance. Practical implications A possible contribution of this study for industry members would be the implications of the finding that indicates positive impact of strategic alliances with different actors of the industry. Originality/value This study contributes to the exploration of network configurations that have a positive impact on innovation and firm performance, by dealing with the impact of the size, strength and geographical level of network relations in one single study. The yacht-building industry as the empirical setting represents a specific category of industry that rests on customized individual or small-batch manufacturing requiring considerable interaction with customers and suppliers. Because no study exists on this topic, findings can inspire similar industries.