Role of Strong versus Weak Networks in Small Business Growth in an Emerging Economy

The study tests whether strong rather than weak ties account for small business growth in Turkey. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire filled out by the owners of small firms operating in four cities. Growth is comprised of two main areas, production expansion and knowledge acquisition. Results show that strong ties are positively related to both types of growth. In contrast, loose ties have no effect on small business growth in either area. This finding is attributed to the influence of the collectivistic nature of the mainstream Turkish culture, where owners of small businesses are likely to rely on in-groups rather than out-groups for advice and for financial support. Implications of relative absence of weak ties for small business growth and innovation in emerging economies are discussed. The findings suggest that culture should be included as a contingency variable in future studies of network strength and growth relationship. The paper also discusses the possible moderating role of affective and cognition-based trust in the relation of strong and weak ties to small business growth

Bases of Power and Conflict Intervention Strategy: A Study on Turkish Managers

Purpose – This study developed an influence perspective for managerial intervention in subordinates conflicts, which helped to represent various strategies identified in the literature in a single model. Managers’ power base was then related to their intervention strategies. Drawing upon Social Judgment Theory, anchoring of subordinates positions was studied as a moderating variable. Methodology – Thirty nine supervisors and their 165 subordinates from several organizations in Turkey filled out a questionnaire reporting power base of supervisor and their intervention strategy utilizing the Critical Incident Technique. Findings – Referent power of superior led to mediation in subordinates’ conflicts. However, mediation decreased while restructuring, arbitration, and educative strategies increased with increased anchoring of subordinates’ positions. These latter strategies mostly relied on reward power of manager. Subordinate satisfaction was highest with mediation and lowest when supervisors distanced themselves from the conflict. Limitations/Implications – The present study could only test the moderating effect of escalation as an anchoring variable. Future studies may look at the anchoring effect of whether the dispute is handled in public or in private, and whether the parties have a competing versus collaborative or compromising styles. Practical implications – Training of managers in mediation may be essential in cultures where they play a focal role in handling subordinates conflicts. Such training may have to take into account their broader influence strategies and use of power. Originality/Value – An influence perspective is useful in integrating the vast array of managerial intervention strategies in the literature. Furthermore, the anchoring effect provides a theoretical explanation for managers’ use of more forceful intervention with less cooperative subordinates

Bases of Power and Conflict Intervention Strategy: A Study on Turkish Managers

Purpose – This study developed an influence perspective for managerial intervention in subordinates conflicts, which helped to represent various strategies identified in the literature in a single model. Managers’ power base was then related to their intervention strategies. Drawing upon Social Judgment Theory, anchoring of subordinates positions was studied as a moderating variable. Methodology – Thirty nine supervisors and their 165 subordinates from several organizations in Turkey filled out a questionnaire reporting power base of supervisor and their intervention strategy utilizing the Critical Incident Technique. Findings – Referent power of superior led to mediation in subordinates’ conflicts. However, mediation decreased while restructuring, arbitration, and educative strategies increased with increased anchoring of subordinates’ positions. These latter strategies mostly relied on reward power of manager. Subordinate satisfaction was highest with mediation and lowest when supervisors distanced themselves from the conflict. Limitations/Implications – The present study could only test the moderating effect of escalation as an anchoring variable. Future studies may look at the anchoring effect of whether the dispute is handled in public or in private, and whether the parties have a competing versus collaborative or compromising styles. Practical implications – Training of managers in mediation may be essential in cultures where they play a focal role in handling subordinates conflicts. Such training may have to take into account their broader influence strategies and use of power. Originality/Value – An influence perspective is useful in integrating the vast array of managerial intervention strategies in the literature. Furthermore, the anchoring effect provides a theoretical explanation for managers’ use of more forceful intervention with less cooperative subordinates

Role of Strong versus Weak Networks in Small Business Growth in an Emerging Economy

The study tests whether strong rather than weak ties account for small business growth in Turkey. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire filled out by the owners of small firms operating in four cities. Growth is comprised of two main areas, production expansion and knowledge acquisition. Results show that strong ties are positively related to both types of growth. In contrast, loose ties have no effect on small business growth in either area. This finding is attributed to the influence of the collectivistic nature of the mainstream Turkish culture, where owners of small businesses are likely to rely on in-groups rather than out-groups for advice and for financial support. Implications of relative absence of weak ties for small business growth and innovation in emerging economies are discussed. The findings suggest that culture should be included as a contingency variable in future studies of network strength and growth relationship. The paper also discusses the possible moderating role of affective and cognition-based trust in the relation of strong and weak ties to small business growth

Management of buyer-supplier conflict: The case of the Turkish automotive industry

This study utilizes data from 50 buyers in automakers and 72 suppliers to study conflict management in Turkish buyer-supplier relationships. The traditional practice of buyer dominance was tested against Bensaou's [Bensaou, M. Portfolios of buyer-supplier relationships. Sloan Management Review 1999; 40(4): 35-44.] strategic segmentation model. A two-dimensional conflict management model was used, comprised of forcing, problem-solving, compromise, accommodation, and avoidance styles. The traditional pattern of relations would predict forcing for the dominant and large buyer firms, and accommodation for the smaller and dependent supplier firms. Bensaou's two-dimensional model identifies four relationship types: strategic partnership, market exchange, captive buyer, and captive supplier. Mapping the two models on each other, we predicted (for buyers) problem-solving for strategic partnership, avoidance or compromise for market exchange, accommodation for captive buyer, and forcing for captive supplier. The results, which were more in line with the traditional pattern of relations, are discussed within the context of the Turkish culture and the historical evolution of automotive buyer-supplier relationships. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Buyer-supplier relationships in the Turkish automotive industry

Purpose-Using a baseline model of buyer-supplier relationships, the study aims to identify the types of relationships in the Turkish automotive industry, and to test predictions as to how these relations would differ across contextual, managerial, and social climate variables

Antecedents of Buyer Firms' Relation Specific Investments in their Suppliers: A Study of the Turkish Automotive Industry

Đlişkileri tanımlarken kullanılan önemli bir olgu firmaların birbirlerine yaptıkları ilişkiye has yatırımlardır. Ancak işlem maliyetleri kuramıyla ilişkisel sözleşme yaklaşımının beklentileri teknolojik belirsizlik, yan sanayinin özel becerileri ve alınan parçanın önemi gibi değişkenler söz konusu olduğunda birbiriyle çelişebilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türk otomotiv sanayiinde ana sanayinin yan sanayiye yaptığı ilişkiye özgü yatırımların öncüllerini saptamak ve böylece hangi kuramsal yaklaşımın ağır bastığını görmektir. 10 otomotiv üreticisinden 51 satın alma sorumlusu ve 72 yan sanayi firması yetkilisinden anket yoluyla toplanan veriler iki kuramsal yaklaşıma göre kurulmuş hipotezleri test etmek için kullanılmıştır. Yapılan çoklu regresyon sonuçları daha çok ilişkisel sözleşme normlarını desteklemiş, teknolojik belirsizlik ilişkiye has yatırımların en belirgin öncülü olarak gözlenmiştir.Publisher's Versio