Religion as source of moral energy for Turkish enterpreneurs

This article was presented at the 33rd Annual ISBE Conference in Lindon, 2010Turkey has a distinctive status within the Muslim world. It is a Muslim country with a greater than 95% Muslim population, and yet it is the only Muslim country that has inscribed the principle of secularism (laiklik) into its constitution. From the very beginning of the Republic, Turkish society has experienced polarization between the ‘Islamists’ and the ‘secularists’. As in every major religion, the Islamic faith prescribes ethical/moral values which shape the way of life at both the level of the individual and society. Unsurprisingly, it is possible to see Islamic moral principles also filtering through to regulate business life

Market-making strategies in Tanzimat era Istanbul: The quest for an elusive cosmopolitanism

Focusing on a pivotal period of the Ottoman Empire, we illustrate how advertising tactics act as market-making tools for local and non-local businesses during the Tanzimat (1839–1876) (Re-organization) era through a study of advertisements in the popular Armeno-Turkish daily newspaper Manzume-i Efkâr. We show that using standardised marketing communications in both form and content to invoke Westernness, forging dealership networks to induce demand, and legitimising the products and brands acted as market-making mechanisms and helped to introduce new products into the local market. Our findings further illuminate that although the market making efforts of the era might suggest the existence of a multilingual, ethnically, and culturally diverse consumer group, the adverts only speak to a limited and inorganically bound set of consumers

Corporate Branding in SMEs: Concepts and Challenges

Bu araştırmada KOBİ’lerin kurumsal marka kavramını nasıl tanımlandığı, kurumsal marka sahibi olmalarının önündeki engeller ve KOBİ’lerde marka anlayışı keşfedilmeye çalışılmıştır. Kurumsal marka sahibi olmanın işletmeler için rekabet avantajı sağladığı ve birçok pazar avantajını beraberinde getirdiği literatürde vurgulanmıştır. Ancak, literatürdeki kurumsal marka araştırmalarının büyük işletmelere odaklandığı ve KOBİ'leri göz ardı ettiği görülmüştür. KOBİ'lerin dünya genelinde önemli bir ekonomik rol oynadığı göz önüne alındığında kurumsal marka oluşturmanın onlar için de uzun vadede faydalar saylayacağı öngörüldü. Bu nedenle, bu çalışmanın amacı KOBİ'lerin kurumsal marka oluşturmasını daha iyi anlamak ve literatürdeki bu boşluğu doldurmaktır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgulara göre KOBİ'lerde kurumsal markayı tanımlama ve geliştirmede işletme sahipleri ve yöneticilerinin rolünün büyük olduğunu ve bu kişilerin karakterinin kurumsal kültür ve kurumsal kimliği üzerinde etkili olduğunu ortaya çıkmıştır. Çalışma Türkiye'nin Kayseri şehrinde farklı sektörlerden 15 KOBİ sahibi veya yöneticisi ile yarı yapılandırılmış mülakatlar kullanarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler tematik analiz yöntemi ile incelenmiş ve beş ana tema belirlenmiştir: kurumsal marka kavramı, girişimci markası, ürün/hizmet markası, kurumsal marka sahibi olmanın önündeki engeller ve başarı. Sonuç olarak, bu araştırma KOBİ'lerin kurumsal marka oluşturmasının önemini ve işletme sahipleri/yöneticilerinin bu süreçteki kilit rolünü vurgulamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın KOBİ'ler için kurumsal marka oluşturma sürecini daha iyi anlamak ve geliştirmek isteyen işletmelere rehberlik edebileceği düşünülmektedir.EXTENDED ABSTRACT. Background & Purpose: The existing literature emphasizes the significance of establishing a distinctive corporate brand for achieving sustainable competitive advantages in business (Balmer, 2013; Brexendorf and Keller, 2017; Harris and de Chernatony, 2001). A well-developed corporate brand is a vital intangible asset within a company's portfolio (Biraghi and Gambetti, 2015; de Chernatony, 1999), offering various market advantages such as improved visibility, customer appeal, product support, visual distinctiveness, investor confidence, embodiment of organizational values, and workforce motivation (Balmer and Gray, 2003, p.973). Moreover, corporate branding acts as a strategic tool enabling firms, irrespective of their size, age, or industry, to secure a more effective market position and differentiate themselves from competitors (Hatch and Schultz, 2008). Notably, the benefits of corporate branding extend beyond large multinational corporations, as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can also leverage it to attain strategic advantages, including sales growth (M'zungu et al., 2019). However, most research in corporate branding has predominantly concentrated on large or multinational companies (Balmer, 2012; Krake, 2005), often overlooking SMEs (Centeno et al., 2013; Rode and Vallester, 2005; Wong and Merrilees, 2005). Given that SMEs constitute nearly 95% of global businesses and contribute around 60% to 70% of employment in OECD economies, they represent a significant segment that demands attention (OECD, 2018). Similar to large multinational corporations, SMEs benefit significantly from a robust corporate brand, allowing them to effectively communicate with both internal and external stakeholders, thereby enhancing their ability to create value (Nielsen and Thomsen, 2009; Gabrielli and Balboni, 2010). Regardless of their size, the creation, development, and maintenance of strong brands are imperative for gaining a competitive edge in the market (Hoeffler and Keller, 2003; Ojasalo et al., 2008). Nonetheless, experts in SME branding widely agree that the exploration of (corporate) branding at the SME level is limited and under-researched (Horan vd., 2011; M’zungu et al., 2019; Inskip, 2004). While some researchers, like Keller and Swaminathan (2015), argue that (corporate) branding is not a priority for SMEs, a substantial body of scientific literature underscores its significance and necessity within SMEs (Krake, 2005; Wong and Merrilees, 2005; Agostini et al., 2015; Centeno et al., 2013; Berthon et al., 2008). Krake's (2005) study in the Netherlands, utilizing the funnel model and interviews, explored branding in SMEs. The funnel model suggests that SME brand management is chiefly influenced by owner/manager experiences, creativity, and knowledge, with these individuals primarily making brand decisions, thereby establishing a strong link between SME manager/owner traits and brand identity, corporate culture, and organizational identity (Krake, 2005). Additionally, research by Spence and Hamzaoui Essoussi (2010) and Ojasalo et al. (2008) underscores the significant role of managers and owners in SME branding. Consequently, when examining brand concepts in SMEs, it's evident that the character of the business owner or manager is the primary factor shaping brand identity, corporate culture, and organizational identity (Rode and Vallaster, 2005; Boyle, 2003; Krake, 2005). Similarly, Rodeand Vallaster (2005) examined corporate branding in eight newly established German SMEs, discovering that entrepreneurs significantly influence employee behaviours aligned with corporate branding. Berthon et al. (2008) conducted a survey among 263 SMEs in the business-to-consumer (B2C) services sector, revealing disparities in brand management perceptions between SMEs and larger enterprises. Most studies examining branding in SMEs have primarily been conducted in developed countries. Furthermore, despite providing valuable insights, the process of corporate branding in SMEs remains inadequately explored. Therefore, this research aims to address this gap in the literature by conceptualizing corporate branding in SMEs and addressing the following research questions: How do SME managers and/or owners in developing countries define corporate branding? What are the barriers to the development of corporate branding in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? Research Method: To achieve these research objectives, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with SME owners/managers from various sectors in Kayseri, Turkey. This approach aimed to encourage diversity between groups while maintaining a certain level of homogeneity. These participants were chosen for their roles as internal stakeholders and their close relationships with other stakeholders. As suggested by Spence (1999), SME owners and managers maintain close relationships with the business's stakeholders. The initial participant was contacted through the researcher's network, and this participant subsequently recommended another person for the study, leading to a chain reaction where each participant recommended a new participant for the interviews. Thus, snowball sampling was employed to collect the necessary qualitative data for this study. Snowball sampling is frequently used in research on cultures where individual communication networks are crucial (Coleman, 1958). In this study, Interview questions were developed based on the literature, research philosophy, and methodology. The interviews were conducted face-to-face in Turkish. Due to political sensitivities in Turkey, all SME owners/managers were reluctant to allow audio recordings, so handwritten notes were taken for all interviews. Interviews were concluded when data saturation was reached, defined as no new data, codes, or themes emerging during interviews (Guest et al., 2006). Demographic information about the participants is summarized in Table 1. In accordance with the ethical guidelines from Brunel University, consent forms (refer to Appendices 1 for the Consent Form) were provided to all participants before each interview. Initial interviews were conducted with SME owners and managers, and notes were taken during these interviews to collect data. Subsequently, these notes were transcribed and integrated into the NVivo 11 software program for analysis. Throughout this study, the personal and company names of all interview participants were anonymized. Conclusion: The research identified five key themes in explaining the corporate branding concept in SMEs: corporate brand concept, entrepreneurial brand, product/service brand, barriers to becoming a corporate brand owner, and success. Although the majority of corporate branding research has centered on large or multinational companies, this study contributes to the literature by shedding light on the underexplored realm of corporate branding in SMEs. Understanding how SMEs conceptualize and navigate corporate branding provides valuable insights into this crucial aspect of business management

Humanoid service robots: The future of healthcare?

Copyright © The Author(s) 2021. Humanoid service robots made swift progress in extending a helping hand to the strained global healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case provides an overview of the robots’ inclusion in healthcare regarding pre- and intra-pandemic contexts. Specific focus is devoted to humanoid service robots as their shape, size, and mobility make them advantageous in using the physical spaces designed for humans. A collection of examples from hospitals worldwide is presented in illustrating the humanoid service robots’ deployment in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pointed future directions aim to facilitate better decision- and policy-making that may ease human anxiety and promote greater acceptance.The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article

Consumers and service robots: Power relationships amid COVID-19 pandemic

Data availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Robotics significantly influence retail and consumer services. The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified the rise of service robots (SRs) through social distancing measures. While robots are embraced widely by retailers and service providers, consumers’ interaction with SRs remains an intriguing avenue of research across contexts. By taking a relative social power perspective, we report on a series of pre- and intra-COVID-19 studies. Our findings suggest that Gen-Z consumers hold more positive attitudes towards SRs perceived as lower in power vis-à-vis the human user. The longitudinal nature of our study also reveals that while attitudes towards such low-power services turned more negative during the COVID-19 pandemic, attitudes towards SRs that are high in power vis-à-vis the human user remained stable. In practical terms, while Gen-Z consumers hold more positive attitudes towards low-power robots, such service providers also face the challenge of relatively changeable attitudes towards them, especially during crisis times

The determination of the pituitary gland, optic chiasm, and intercavernous distance measurements in healthy subjects according to age and gender

Background: This paper was undertaken to determine the morphometry of pituitary gland diameter, pituitary gland height, intercavernous distance, optic chiasm diameter and optic chiasm height in skulls of Turkish population aged between 18 and 60 years. Materials and methods: It was a retrospective study in which 292 subjects were included 187 females and 105 males, ranging from 18 up to 60 years. Subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging in the Radiology Department. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 21.00 programme. ANOVA test, χ2 test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to determine the relation and significance between measurements and age group. The p < 0.05 value was considered as significant. Results: The groups were divided into five groups according to age. The overall means and standard deviations of the measurements were: pituitary gland width, 13.09 ± 1.99 mm; pituitary gland height, 4.91 ± 1.10 mm; intercavernous distance, 15.93 ± 3.05 mm; optic chiasm width, 12.82 ± 1.27 mm; and optic chiasm height, 2.80 ± 0.49 mm in females, respectively whereas, the same measurements were 12.96 ± 1.74 mm; 4.79 ± 0.95 mm; 16.08 ± 3.11 mm; 13.13 ± 1.37 mm; 2.86 ± 0.70 mm in males, respectively. Height of the pituitary gland reached a maximum in the age group of 18 to 20 years in both females and males and there was a decrease in the pituitary gland height in the subsequent age groups. Conclusions: Knowledge of the variation in the size of pituitary gland, intercavernous distance and optic chiasm is important to evaluate the dimensions of these structures for clinical and pathological processes

A wideband linear tunable CDTA and its application in field programmable analogue array

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Hu, Z., Wang, C., Sun, J. et al. ‘A wideband linear tunable CDTA and its application in field programmable analogue array’, Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, Vol. 88 (3): 465-483, September 2016. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 6 June 2017. The final publication is available at Springer via https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10470-016-0772-7 © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016In this paper, a NMOS-based wideband low power and linear tunable transconductance current differencing transconductance amplifier (CDTA) is presented. Based on the NMOS CDTA, a novel simple and easily reconfigurable configurable analogue block (CAB) is designed. Moreover, using the novel CAB, a simple and versatile butterfly-shaped FPAA structure is introduced. The FPAA consists of six identical CABs, and it could realize six order current-mode low pass filter, second order current-mode universal filter, current-mode quadrature oscillator, current-mode multi-phase oscillator and current-mode multiplier for analog signal processing. The Cadence IC Design Tools 5.1.41 post-layout simulation and measurement results are included to confirm the theory.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Discrimination of Muslim minorities at work in Muslim majority countries: the case of Turkey and Pakistan

Past Conferences - EDI 2019 Rotterdam Accepted Papers: https://www.edi-conference.org/downloads_8.phpCopyright © 2019 The Author(s). In the context of increased incidents of religious sectarianism in Turkey and Pakistan, two Muslim majority countries, this paper explicates the religious discrimination that Muslim minorities face at work. First, we examine religious diversity in both countries, and explore the identity and agency of religious minorities at work. We then draw on 17 interviews each with individuals from Muslim minority groups in Turkish and Pakistani workplaces, we demonstrate how religious discrimination is experienced in the context of a country (i.e., Turkey) where the secular system is under considerable strain and a country (i.e., Pakistan) where Islamic egalitarian principles enshrined in the national constitution have patchy implementation. The study reveals religiously inspired bias (Turkey and Pakistan),fealtry or biat (Turkey) and Takfiri extremism (Pakistan) as significant mechanisms by which intrafaith relations are shaped and religious ties serve as both a privilege and a disadvantage. Thus, the study uncovers a number of invisible constraints, which deteriorate the agency of religious minorities at work. We theorise what happens to religious equality at work when a secular or egalitarian system is challenged by a particular interpretation of religion.https://www.edi-conference.org/downloads_8.ph

Burden of epilepsy in Latin America and The Caribbean: a trend analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 – 2019.

Background: The epilepsy prevalence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) had remained high over the last 20 years. Data on the burden of epilepsy are needed for healthcare planning and resource allocation. However, no systematic analysis had been performed for epilepsy burden in LAC. Methods: We extracted data of all LAC countries from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study from 1990 to 2019. Epilepsy burden was measured as prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs; defined by the sum of years of life lost [YLLs] for premature mortality and years lived with disability [YLDs]), by age, sex, year, and country. Absolute numbers, rates, and 95% uncertainty intervals were reported. We performed correlational analyses among burden metrics and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Findings: The burden of epilepsy decreased around 20% in LAC, led by YLLs reduction. In 2019, 6·3 million people were living with active epilepsy of all causes (95% UI 5·3 - 7·4), with 3·22 million (95% UI 2·21 - 4·03) and 3·11 million (95% UI 2·21 to 4·03) cases of epilepsy with identifiable aetiology and idiopathic epilepsy, respectively. The number of DALYs represented the 9·51% (1.37 million, 95% UI 0·99 -1·86) of the global epilepsy burden in 2019. The age-standardized burden was 175·9 per 100 000 population (95% UI 119·4 - 253·3), which tend to have a bimodal age distribution (higher in the youth and elderly) and was driven by high YLDs estimates. The burden was higher in men and older adults, primarily due to high YLLs and mortality. Alcohol use was associated with 17% of the reported DALYs. The SDI estimates significantly influenced this burden (countries with high SDI have less epilepsy burden and mortality, but not prevalence or disability). Interpretation: The epilepsy burden has decreased in LAC over the past 30 years. Even though, LAC is still ranked as the third region with the highest global epilepsy burden. This reduction was higher in children, but burden and mortality increased for older adults. The epilepsy burden is disability predominant; however, the mortality-related estimates are still higher than in other regions. Alcohol consumption and countries’ development are important determinants of this burden. There is an urgent need to improve access to epilepsy care in LAC, particularly for older adults. Strengthening primary care with online learning and telemedicine tools, and promoting risk factors modification should be prioritized in the region. Funding: This research was self-funded by the authors