The Transition from Traditional to Modern Management in Turkey

Turkey is a nation of contrast and change. Populous urban centers are the hubs of rapid economic development while rural areas exhibit long-standing poverty. Turkey displays a unique combination of European and Middle Eastern managerial characteristics. The taming of severe inflation and accomplishments in engineering and industrialization have encouraged Turkey's managers to anticipate entry into the European Union. Economists expect Turkey's increasingly competitive manufacturing sector to continue to grow. Against eight decades of secular government success, terrorists in the eastern part of Turkey are a persistent thorn in the paw of this predominantly Muslim nation. Business management in Turkey is both lagging and leading economic change. Traditional methods of family-run businesses such as reluctance to delegate and lack of planning still influence many Turkish managers' decisions, especially in the small to mid-sized businesses that dominate Turkish business. In contrast, Turkish optimism and willingness to take risks and manage entrepreneurially give Turkish managers advantages in this complex and rapidly changing world of global business