Environmental scanning and interpretation of institutionalism by middle-sized family enterprises in the Marmara region, Turkey

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Why are some mid-size family firms quick to institutionalize their structures while others
are slow to let go the power that comes with informal ways of organizing? Owner-
managers’ personality and scanning are suggested as drivers behind variance in
perceptions of institutionalization in family firms as well as variance in planning future
institutionalization. Specifically, the role of need for cognition and regulatory focus,
organizational size and perceived environmental uncertainty are examined for their
relationships with managers’ environmental scanning, interpretations of
institutionalization and action towards institutionalism in middle-sized family firms.
Survey data were collected from owner-managers of 90 middle-sized family
manufacturing firms in Gebze and Istanbul, Turkey. Findings revealed the importance of
scanning through external sources on the issue interpretation as an opportunity and as a
necessity. Managers who had high levels of need for cognition tended to scan their

environments more, and interpret institutionalism as an opportunity and a necessity, but
not as a threat for family firms. Interpretations of institutionalism failed to predict action
plans towards institutionalism, but found to be related to current levels of institutionalism
of the firms. Promotion regulatory focus levels of the managers did not predict
opportunity/threat interpretations or action plans towards institutionalism; however,
prevention regulatory focus was revealed to be a strong predictor of environmental
scanning, opportunity/threat interpretations and action plans.

Burcu Çanacık
Environmental scanning and interpretation of institutionalism by middle-sized family enterprises in the Marmara region, Turkey · 2006 · 136 sayfa.
Danışman: Y.Doç.Dr. Mahmut Bayazıt ; Prof.Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı ; Prof.Dr. Tamer Koçel
BU araştırmanın devamına: http://tez2.yok.gov.tr/tez.htm adresinden ulaşabilirsiniz.