A National Reflection of Authentic Leadership: A Critical Factor Behind the Success of Turkish Contracting Companies Abroad

Abstract

Turkish construction companies rank second in the world after China. The study aimed to identify the factors that enable Turkish contractors to succeed abroad, focusing on these success factors. Then, it examined the unique characteristics of authentic Turkish leaders. Interviews were conducted with 16 owners and/or top executives on two stages. The questions incorporated the content of the three authentic leadership scales: ALQ, ALSQ and ALI. Content analysis was used to evaluate the data obtained from the interviews. Studies on contractors abroad tend to be engineering and project-based, leaving a small room for management topics. The study fills an important research gap by investigating the success factors and the role of leadership in contracting firms operating abroad. It then reveals the Turkish type of authentic leadership characteristics in Turkish contracting firms abroad. Reaching business owners and senior managers was the most challenging and limiting factor for us in this study. The surveyed companies represent approximately 25% of companies of their size. The success factors of Turkish construction companies operating abroad are mostly about the leadership. Leaders play a crucial role, especially in multinational and/or multicultural companies and in activities that are carried out in foreign countries. Leaders are not afraid to take risks, make quick decisions, focused on adaptation and communication, open-minded and have high self-confidence. The paper includes implications for the development of leadership skills and especially in the construction sector, it is expected to be a guideline for construction companies that operate or want to operate abroad.

Keywords

• Management and organization
• organizational behavior
• leadership
• authentic leadership
• Turkish type of leadership

Otantik Liderliğin Ulusal Yansıması: Türk Müteahhitlik İşletmelerinin Yurtdışındaki Başarısının Ardında Yatan Kritik Faktör

Abstract

Türk müteahhitlik işletmeleri, uzun yıllardır Çin'in ardından dünyada ikinci sırada yer almaktadır. Çalışmada ilk olarak, Türk müteahhitlerinin yurtdışında başarılı olmalarını sağlayan faktörlerin belirlenmesi ve başarı faktörlerine odaklanılması amaçlanmıştır. İkinci olarak, Türk liderlerine özgü otantik liderlik özellikleri araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla iki aşamada 16 şirket sahibi ve/veya üst düzey yönetici ile görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma soruları üç otantik liderlik ölçeğinin içeriğini kapsamaktadır (ALQ, ALSQ ve ALI). Görüşmelerden elde edilen verileri değerlendirmek için içerik analizi kullanılmıştır. Yurtdışındaki müteahhitlik işletmeleri üzerine yapılan çalışmalar, büyük oranda mühendislik ve proje tabanlıdır ve yönetsel araştırmalar oldukça kısıtlıdır. Bu çalışma, yurt dışında faaliyet gösteren müteahhitlik firmalarındaki başarı faktörlerini ve liderliğin rolünü araştırarak önemli bir araştırma boşluğunu doldurmakta ve yurtdışındaki Türk müteahhitlik firmalarında Türk tipi otantik liderlik özelliklerini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmada işletme sahiplerine ve üst düzey yöneticilere ulaşmak sınırlayıcı bir faktör olmuştur. Bunun nedeni işletme sahipleri ve üst düzey yöneticilerin çok yoğun iş ortamlarında ve yılın büyük bir kısmında yurtdışında bulunmalarıdır. Araştırmaya katılan şirketler, kendi büyüklüklerindeki şirketlerin yaklaşık %25'ini temsil etmektedir. Yurtdışında faaliyet gösteren Türk inşaat şirketlerinin başarı faktörleri çoğunlukla liderlikle ilgilidir. Liderler, özellikle çok uluslu ve/veya çok kültürlü şirketlerde ve yabancı ülkelerde yürütülen faaliyetlerde çok önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Liderler risk almaktan korkmayan, hızlı karar veren, uyum ve iletişim odaklı, açık fikirli ve yüksek özgüvene sahip kişilerdir. Liderlik becerilerinin geliştirilmesine yönelik çıkarımlar içeren çalışmanın, özellikle inşaat sektöründe yurt dışında faaliyet gösteren veya göstermeyi amaçlayan işletmeler için yol gösterici olması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

• Yönetim ve organizasyon
• örgütsel davranış
• liderlik
• otantik liderlik
• Türk tipi liderlik

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