THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF TURKISH MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES AND REVERSE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER THROUGH FDI: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

In this study, we examine the internationalization processes and reverse knowledge transfer of Turkish multinational companies. Case study was used with the aim of revealing exploratory knowledge because there is no enough study in the related literature. In-depth interviews were conducted with senior executives of a Turkish multinational company. This company has subsidiaries operating in developed and developing host countries. When the findings are evaluated, it is seen that reverse knowledge transfer takes place not only from developed host countries but also from other developing host countries. It turns out that reverse knowledge transfer helps to improve processes in the head firm and between branches by providing benefits in terms of time and cost. In addition to reverse knowledge transfer, they widely use formal and informal channels of effective information transfer, both from the head office to the branches and between the branches. In addition, when the findings are evaluated in general, it is seen that a single internationalization theory will not be sufficient to explain the internationalization processes of Turkish multinational companies and it would be more accurate to consider multiple theories together.

Keywords

• Turkish multinational companies
• knowledge transfer
• reverse knowledge transfer
• internationalization motivation

TÜRK ÇOKULUSLU ŞİRKETLERİN ULUSLARARASILAŞMA SÜREÇLERİ VE DYY KAYNAKLI TERS BİLGİ TRANSFERİ: BİR VAKA ANALİZİ

Öz

Bu çalışmada, Türk kökenli çokuluslu şirketlerin uluslararasılaşma süreçleri ve ters bilgi transferi irdelenmeye çalışılmaktadır. İlgili yazında yeterli düzeyde çalışma olmadığı için keşifsel bilgi ortaya koymak güdüsüyle vaka analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Bu amaçla, gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ev sahibi ülkelerde faaliyette bulunan bir Türk çokuluslu şirketinin üst düzey yöneticileri ile derinlemesine mülakatlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular çerçevesinde, yalnızca gelişmiş ev sahibi ülkelerden değil aynı zamanda diğer gelişmekte olan ev sahibi ülkelerden de ters bilgi transferinin gerçekleştiği görülmektedir. Ters bilgi transferinin, zaman ve maliyet açısından faydalar sağlayarak merkez firmada ve şubeler arasında süreçlerin iyileştirilmesine yardımcı olduğu ortaya çıkmaktadır. Ters bilgi transferinin yanı sıra hem merkezden şubelere yönelik hem de şubeler arasında etkin bilgi transferlerinin formal ve informal kanallarla yaygın kullanmaktadırlar. Ayrıca, bulgular genel olarak değerlendirildiğinde, Türk kökenli firmaların uluslararasılaşma süreçlerini açıklamada tek bir uluslararasılaşma teorisinin yetersiz kalacağı birden çok teorinin bir arada ele alınmasının daha doğru olacağı görülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Türk çokuluslu şirketleri
• ters bilgi transferi
• bilgi transferi
• uluslararasılaşma motivasyonu

Kaynakça

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