Factors Affecting Export Performance in the Context of Strategic Management: Proposal of a Theoretical Model

Exporting attracts attention as an international sales activity, which has been studied by the country’s economic managements, firm managers and academic researchers as it reduces the current deficit by providing foreign exchange inflow in economy and has positive effects on the profitability indicators at the firm level. Though there are many studies on the factors that affect export performance of firms, in the literature, most of the studies are not theoretical. For firms, export activity is the most common strategic option to access to the international markets. Considering the export activity from the strategic management perspective provides a high prediction in terms of understanding the factors that affect export performance. In this study, the factors that affect export activity of the firms are examined from the strategic management perspective within the scope of the theoretical approaches presented in the literature. In this regard, the effects of competitive strategies within the scope of the industrial organization theory, and of firm resources and capabilities within the scope of the resource-based view on export performance are discussed, and a theoretical model has been presented

Relationship between export capabilities and competitive advantage: An empirical investigation on Turkish exporters

İhracat literatürde firmaların uluslararası pazarlara girmelerini sağlayan en basit stratejik seçenek olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Yabancı pazarların firmalar için taşıdığı en büyük risk ise belirsizliktir. İhracatçı firmalar, bu belirsizliği azaltmak ve yabancı pazarlarda rakipleri karşısında avantaj elde etmek için klâsik pazarlama yeteneklerine ilave farklı bir takım yeteneklere daha ihtiyaç duyarlar. Bu çerçevede, bu çalışmada ihracatçı firmalara yabancı pazarlarda rakipleri karşısında avantaj sağlayan yeteneklerin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, Türkiye’de yerleşik 281 imalâtçı-ihracatçı firmanın 300 ihracat girişimi üzerinde gerçekleştirilen araştırma neticesinde, enformasyonel yeteneklerin maliyet ve ürün avantajıyla, ilişki kurma ve pazarlama yeteneklerinin ise maliyet, ürün ve hizmet avantajıyla pozitif yönde ilişkili olduğu tespit edilmiştir.Within the literature, exporting is considered as the simplest strategic option which enables firms to access foreign markets. The greatest risk of foreign markets for firms is uncertainty. In order to decrease this uncertainty and gain advantage against competitors, exporter firms need some additional capabilities which are different from classical marketing capabilities. Within this context, this study aims to define the capabilities which enable exporter firms to gain advantage against competitors in foreign markets. For this aim, an empirical research is conducted with the 300 export venture of 281 Turkish manufacturer-exporters. The results showed that informational capabilities are positively related with cost and product while relationship and marketing capabilities positively related with cost, product and services

The simultaneous effect of firm capabilities and competitive strategies on export performance: The role of competitive advantages and competitive intensity

Purpose – This study aims to determine the simultaneous effect of exporting firms’ competitive strategies and capabilities on the achievement of competitive advantages and export performance under the boundary conditions of competitive intensity. In so doing, the study combines the alternative theoretical lenses of the resource-based view (RBV) and the structure–conduct–performance (SCP) paradigm. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data were obtained from 281 Turkish manufacturer–exporter firms operating in different sectors and located in several regions of the country. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test our conceptual framework, which combined the effects of RBV-based and SCP-based factors on competitive advantages and export performance under the moderating influence of competitive intensity. Findings – This study reveals that unique firm capabilities, specifically informational, relational, and marketing capabilities, and competitive strategies, including differentiation and cost leadership, provide export firms with a competitive advantage and improve their export performance in foreign markets. Furthermore, competitive advantages partially mediate the effects of competitive strategies and unique firm capabilities on export performance. Finally, unexpectedly, and contrary to most of the existing literature, we find that competitive intensity negatively moderates the link between service advantages and export performance. Originality/value – This research offers a comprehensive view of manufacturer–exporter firms’ export performance by accounting for the overlooked simultaneous effect of firm capabilities and competitive strategies through the mediation of competitive advantages and under the boundary conditions of competitive intensity.Q1WOS:0006603815000012-s2.0-8510749023

Porównanie stosunku liczby neutrofilów do limfocytów u pacjentów z tętniakiem tętnicy wieńcowej i chorych z istotnym zwężeniem tętnicy wieńcowej

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that inflammation, neurohormonal process and cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the development of coronary artery ectasia (CAE). However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for ectasia formation are not fully understood. The neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio has recently emerged as a new inflammation marker for cardiovascular disease.Aim: In this study, we hypothesised that CAE could be associated with more severe inflammation compared to obstructive coronary artery disease (O-CAD) with regard to N/L ratio values.Methods: A total of 405 patients with isolated CAE, O-CAD and insignificant CAD (controls) were enrolled. Severity of isolatedCAE was determined according to the Markis classification. N/L ratio values were compared between the three groups.Results: We determined that the patients with isolated CAE had significantly elevated N/L ratio values compared to O-CADand control groups (2.5 vs. 1.9, p < 0.001 and vs. 1.6, p < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, diabetes meliteis (DM) and hypertension, N/L ratio was independently associated with the presence (N/L ratio, OR = 2.48, 95% CI 2.03–3.02, p < 0. 001) and severity (DM, OR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.02–8.18, p = 0.044, N/L ratio, OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.47–2.41, p = 0.004) of isolated CAE. ROC curve analysis revealed that a N/L ratio value of > 2.06 identified the patients with isolated CAE.Conclusions: We showed that patients with isolated CAE had a significantly higher N/L ratio than patients with O-CAD and control groups. This finding suggests that a more severe inflammatory process could be involved in the development of CAE.Wstęp: Wcześniejsze badania wykazały, że zapalenie, proces neurohormonalny i czynniki ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego wiążą się z rozwojem tętniaka tętnicy wieńcowej (CAE). Jednak mechanizmy prowadzące do powstania tętniaka nie zostały w pełni poznane. Ostatnio uznano stosunek liczby neutrofili do limfocytów (N/L) za nowy wskaźnik zapalenia w chorobach układu sercowo-naczyniowego.Cel: W niniejszym badaniu autorzy postawili hipotezę, że CAE może się wiązać z bardziej nasilonym procesem zapalnym niż istotne zwężenie tętnicy wieńcowej (O-CAD), czego miarą są wartości współczynnika N/L.Metody: Do badania włączono 405 osób z izolowanym CAE, O-CAD i nieistotną klinicznie CAD (grupa kontrolna). Ciężkość izolowanego CAE określono na podstawie klasyfikacji Markisa. Wartości współczynnika N/L porównano między grupami.Wyniki: Autorzy ustalili, że u chorych z CAE wartości współczynnika N/L były istotnie podwyższone w porównaniu z pacjentami z O-CAD i osobami z grupy kontrolnej (odpowiednio 2,5 vs. 1,9; p < 0,001 i 1,6; p < 0,001). W analizie wieloczynnikowej skorygowanej względem wieku, płci, cukrzycy i nadciśnienia tętniczego współczynnik N/L był niezależnie związanyz obecnością (współczynnik N/L, OR = 2,48; 95% CI 2,03–3,02; p < 0,001) i ciężkością (cukrzyca, OR = 2,90; 95% CI 1,02–8,18; p = 0,044; współczynnik N/L, OR = 1,88; 95% CI 1,47–2,41; p = 0,004) izolowanego CAE. Analiza krzywychROC wykazała, że wartość współczynnika N/L wynosząca ponad 2,06 pozwala zidentyfikować pacjentów z izolowanym CAE.Wnioski: Autorzy wykazali, że u chorych z izolowanym CAE współczynnik N/L jest istotnie wyższy niż u pacjentów z O-CAD i u osób z grupy kontrolnej. Te obserwacje sugerują, że bardziej nasilony proces zapalny może wpływać na rozwój CAE

Data Analytics without Borders: Multi-Layered Insights for Syrian Refugee Crisis

This study aims to shed light on various aspects of refugees’ lives in Turkey using mobile call data records of Türk Telekom, which is enriched with numerous local data sets. To achieve this, we made use of several techniques in addition to a novel methodology we developed for this particular domain. Our results showed that refugees are highly mobile as a survival strategy, a significant number of whom work as seasonal workers. Most prefer to live in relatively cheap neighborhoods, close to city transport links and fellow refugees. The ones living in low-status neighborhoods appear to be introvert, living in a closed neighborhood. However, the middle and upper class refugees appear to be the opposite. Fatih, İstanbul was found as an important hub for refugees. Finally, the officially registered refugee numbers do not reflect the real refugee population in Turkey. Due to their high mobility, refugees lag behind in keeping up-to-date information about their residential address, resulting in a significant discrepancy between the official numbers and the real numbers. We believe that policy makers can benefit from the proposed methods in this study to develop real-time solutions for the well-being of refugees

Suboptimal use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants: Results from the RAMSES study

WOS: 000384041400052PubMed ID: 27583892This study aimed to investigate the potential misuse of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and the physicians' adherence to current European guideline recommendations in real-world using a large dataset from Real-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies in Turkey (RAMSES Study).RAMSES study is a prospective, multicenter, nationwide registry (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02344901). In this subgroup analysis of RAMSES study, patients who were on NOACs were classified as appropriately treated (AT), undertreated (UT), and overtreated (OT) according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. The independent predictors of UT and OT were determined by multivariate logistic regression.Of the 2086 eligible patients, 1247 (59.8%) received adequate treatment. However, off-label use was detected in 839 (40.2%) patients; 634 (30.4%) patients received UT and 205 (9.8%) received OT. Independent predictors of UT included >65 years of age, creatinine clearance 50mL/min, urban living, existing dabigatran treatment, and HAS-BLED score of <3, whereas that of OT were creatinine clearance <50mL/min, ongoing rivaroxaban treatment, and HAS-BLED score of 3.The suboptimal use of NOACs is common because of physicians' poor compliance to the guideline recommendations in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Older patients who were on dabigatran treatment with good renal functions and low risk of bleeding were at risk of UT, whereas patients who were on rivaroxaban treatment with renal impairment and high risk of bleeding were at risk of OT. Therefore, a greater emphasis should be given to prescribe the recommended dose for the specified patients

Policy Implications of the D4R Challenge

The Data for Refugees (D4R) Challenge resulted in many insights related to the movement patterns of the Syrian refugees within Turkey. In this chapter, we summarize some of the important findings, and suggest policy recommendations for the main areas of the challenge. These recommendations are sometimes broad suggestions, as the policy interventions involve many factors that are difficult to take into account. We give examples of such issues to help policy-makers

Guideline-adherent therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in different health care settings: Results from ramses study

Objective No studies have been conducted in Turkey to compare the quality of stroke prevention therapies provided in different healthcare settings in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate possible differences between secondary (SH) and tertiary hospital (TH) settings in the effectiveness of implementing AF treatment strategies. Methods Baseline characteristics of 6273 patients with non-valvular AF enrolled in the RAMSES (ReAl-life Multicentre Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies in Turkey) study were compared. Results Of the study population, 3312 (52.8%) patients were treated in THs and 2961 (47.2%) patients were treated in SHs. Patients treated in the SH setting were older (70.8 ± 9.8 vs. 68.7 ± 11.4 years, p &lt; 0.001), had a lower socioeconomic status, had a higher CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores (3.4 ± 1.4 vs. 3.1 ± 1.7, p &lt; 0.001 and 1.7 ± 1.0 vs. 1.6 ± 1.1, p &lt; 0.001 respectively), and had more comorbidities than patients treated in THs. Inappropriate oral anticoagulant use was more prevalent in SHs than THs (31.4% vs. 25.6%, p &lt; 0.001). When over- and undertreatment rates were compared among hospital types, overtreatment was more prevalent in THs (7.6% vs. 0.9%, p &lt; 0.001) while undertreatment was more common in SHs (30.5% vs. 17.9%, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion This study demonstrates the marked disparity between patient groups with AF presenting at SHs and THs. The use of guideline-recommended therapy is not adequate in either type of centre, overtreatment was more prevalent in THs and undertreatment was more prevalent in SHs