Selim Zaim

The impact of supply chain management practices on performance of SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to determine the underlying dimensions of supply chain management (SCM) practices and to empirically test a framework identifying the relationships among SCM practices, operational performance and SCM‐related organizational performance with special emphasis on small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey.Design/methodology/approach – Data for the study were collected from a sample of 203 manufacturing SMEs operating in the manufacture of fabricated metal products and general purpose machinery (NACE codes 28 and 29) within the city of Istanbul in Turkey. The research framework was tested using partial least squares method, which is a variance‐based structural equation modeling approach.Findings – Based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA), SCM practices were grouped in two factors: outsourcing and multi‐suppliers (OMS), and strategic collaboration and lean practices (SCLP). The results indicate that both factors of SCLP and OMS have direct positive and significa...

An analysis of the relationship between TQM implementation and organisational performance: evidence from Turkish SMEs

Purpose – The principal aim of this paper is to determine the critical factors of total quality management (TQM) and to measure their effect on organizational performance of SMEs operating in Turkish textile industry.Design/methodology/approach – Data for this study was collected using a self‐administered questionnaire that was distributed to 500 SMEs in textile industry in the city of Istanbul in Turkey selected randomly from the database of Turkish Small Business Administration (KOSGEB). Of the 500 questionnaires posted, a total of 163 questionnaires were returned.Findings – Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, seven empirically validated dimensions of TQM were identified. The structural equation modelling technique was employed to investigate the relationship between the implementation of TQM practices and organizational performance. Data analysis reveals that there is a strong positive relationship between TQM practices and non‐financial performance of SMEs, while there is only weak inf...

An application of data envelopment analytic hierarchy process for supplier selection : a case study of BEKO in Turkey

This paper aims to apply a hybrid method of supplier selection to a well-known Turkish company operating in the appliance industry. The data envelopment analytic hierarchy process (DEAHP) methodology developed by Ramanathan, R., (Data envelopment analysis for weight derivation and aggregation in the analytic hierarchy process. Computers and Operations Research, 2006, 33, 1289–1307) was chosen as the survey method. In this method, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach is embedded into analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology. This research concluded that the DEAHP method outperforms the AHP method for supplier selection despite the findings that the AHP model suggested supplier 1 to be the best supplier, contradicting the suggestion made by the DEAHP model and the real action taken by BEKO in selecting supplier 2. These findings imply that DEAHP criteria reflect closer to the real optimum of the decision made. Drawing on a real case our study has supported Ramanathans (2006) work confirming the view that the DEAHP method provides a better decision than the AHP method for supplier selection. Because the DEAHP model is relatively more cumbersome to apply, its application will be more appropriate for high-value components where stringent purchasing criteria are required. In contrast, AHP would remain to be an appropriate approach for relatively lower value components (C class). The novelty of this research lies in the application of a hybrid approach to a real industry case–the DEAHP method for supplier selection, where little has been done on this subject. This study has dealt with one of the most important subjects in supply chain management providing a better decision for supplier selection using appropriate quantitative approaches.

TQM and market orientation's impact on SMEs' performance

Purpose – The principal aim of this study is to determine the impact of market orientation (MO) and implementation of total quality management (TQM) on organizational performance of SMEs.Design/methodology/approach – Based on theoretical considerations, a model is proposed linking the MO and TQM constructs to the organizational performance construct. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses empirically verified and validated the underlying dimensions of MO, TQM and organizational performance. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the model drawing on a sample of 141 SMEs operating in the Turkish textile industry.Findings – Data analysis reveals that, while MO has a strong and positive impact on the extent of TQM implementation, it has no significant impact on organizational performance. Similarly, a strong and positive relationship was noted between the level of TQM implementation and organizational performance. It has also been found that the MO has a positive and significant impact on or...

Analyzing business competition by using fuzzy TOPSIS method: An example of Turkish domestic airline industry

The article uses fuzzy TOPSIS multi-methodological approach in the Turkish domestic airline industry. It starts by describing exceedingly complex nature of competition in the sector. Then, it deals with the constituent parts of the research methodology and the eclectic approach itself. The implementation of fuzzy TOPSIS method in the Turkish domestic airline industry reveals the ranking of major air carriers in light of key success variables in the sector. The article also provides an evaluation of empirical findings of fuzzy TOPSIS method from a managerial perspective.

Hybrid analytical hierarchy process model for supplier selection

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a new approach called “analytical hierarchy process weighted fuzzy linear programming model (AHP‐FLP)” for supplier selection.Design/methodology/approach – A hybrid method of supplier selection, AHP‐FLP is applied to a real industry case. The weights of the various criteria, taken as local weights from a given judgment matrix, are calculated using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) that are also considered as the weights of the fuzzy linear programming model. This new model is compared with the classical AHP method.Findings – This study concluded that the AHP‐FLP method outperforms the AHP method for supplier selection with respect to restricted supplier selection criteria. Drawing on a real case, Supplier 1 was identified to be the best supplier through the AHP model under no restrictions, which contradicts the finding that Supplier 2 was selected as the best supplier by the AHP‐FLP model subject to constraints.Research limitations/implications – More research is defi...

Performance of knowledge management practices: a causal analysis

– The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of knowledge management (KM) infrastructure and KM processes on the performance of KM practices., – The paper is based on personal interviews, data were collected from 83 managers from a single case study of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operator in Turkey., – The paper finds that hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Test of hypotheses revealed that both KM processes and KM infrastructure positively and significantly influenced the performance of KM practices. These findings tend to corroborate our conceptual model and are also in line with the existing literature. KM infrastructure was found to be more significantly affecting KM performance than KM processes, indicating that the context and background of KM is more important than the application aspects of KM., – The findings in this paper cannot be generalized due to the case study approach. It may not be claimed that both KM processes and KM infrastructure solely determine the performance of KM practices. Instead, there are many other factors that may influence KM performance, which are somewhat beyond the scope of this research., – The paper shows that the evaluation of KM performance is expected to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and adaptability of KM efforts so as to add more value to the overall performance of the organization., – In this paper there is little or no empirical evidence investigating the influence of KM infrastructure and KM processes on KM performance. This paper rectifies this imbalance by clarifying the link between KM infrastructure, processes and performance.

Measuring the efficiency of customer satisfaction and loyalty for mobile phone brands with DEA

The concept of customer satisfaction and loyalty (CS&L) has attracted much attention in recent years. A key motivation for the fast growing emphasis on CS&L can be attributed to the fact that higher customer satisfaction and loyalty can lead to stronger competitive position resulting in larger market share and profitability. Using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, in this study we analyzed and compared CS&L efficiency for mobile phone brands in an emerging telecommunication market, Turkey. The constructs of European Customer Satisfaction Index (ECSI) model are treated and used as input and output indicators of our DEA model. Drawing on the perceptual responses of 251 mobile phone users, the DEA models reveal that from the top six mobile phone brands in Turkey, Nokia features as the most efficient brand followed by LG and Sonny Ericsson in terms of CS&L efficiency, while Motorola, Samsung and Panasonic rank as the least efficient brands.

A causal analysis of formal strategic planning and firm performance: evidence from an emerging country

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of the strategic planning‐performance relationship by drawing on data from a sample of Turkish firms.Design/methodology/approach – The sample frame for the study was derived from the database of the Istanbul Chamber of Industrys 500 largest Turkish manufacturing companies and the database of companies quoted on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Based on a postal survey, 135 usable questionnaires were returned. Using LISREL causal modeling the moderating effects of a set of contingency factors on the relationship between formal strategic planning and firm performance were investigated.Findings – The findings show that there is a good deal of support for the studys hypotheses. A strong and positive relationship was formed between formal strategic planning and firm performance, which tends to confirm the arguments of the prescriptive strategic management literature. The test results also verify the moderating roles of environmental turbulence, organiz...

A paradox of service quality in Turkey

Purpose – Are there cases or contexts where certain groups of customers who are expected to place a considerable emphasis and importance on the tangible qualities of services end up attributing a greater weight to the intangible qualities? This paper attempts to exemplify the existence of such cases, and explain why such cases are, at times, paradoxical in nature, and how such cases could arise.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a structural‐equation‐modeling approach to theorize about, and empirically examine, the tangible and intangible determinants of service quality. The model and the path developed in the paper also capture the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction. Using AMOS, the empirical estimation of the model is carried out.Findings – The central finding is that all intangible factors associated with service quality turn out to be unequivocally more important than the tangible ones in the Turkish non‐profit health‐care sector under investigation. In other w...