Abstract
This study investigates human resource (HR) management (HRM) practices in Turkey vis-à-vis history, religion, culture, and economic systems. It hopes to contribute discussion on convergence and divergence by assessing traditional values’ impact on shaping HR practices. The study reviews the journal articles, thesis and conference proceedings addressing major human resource functions, namely job analysis, training, performance-management, recruitment and selection in Turkey. Review suggests directional convergence’s presence, meaning companies in Turkey follow the same trends prevailing in the USA or Europe, yet the patterns differ with respect to Turkish firms’ understanding and implementation of these trends. Collectivism, paternalism, and uncertainty avoidance seem to profoundly impact HRM practices in Turkey, decreasing the possibility of full convergence. HR literature is dominated by U.S. and European-oriented research. As this study provides a detailed, though not comprehensive literature review concerning HR practices in Turkey, its conclusions also may be extrapolated to countries with a similar socio-cultural dynamic, in addition to suggesting avenues for future research.
Keywords
References
- Acuner, T. (2001). İnsan Kaynakların Yetiştirilmesi, Geliştirilmesi ve Hizmet Sektöründe Bir Saha Araştırması, Training and development of human resources: A field research in service sector. Atatürk Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi , 15(3),177-190.
- Akcakanat, T. (2009). İnsan Kaynakları Yönetiminde Performans Değerlendirme: Isparta İl Emniyet Müdürlüğü'nde Bir Uygulama. Perfomance Evaluation in Human Resource Management: An Aplication in Isparta Police Department. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Isparta: Süleyman Demirel University.
- Andersen, A. (2000). 2001’e Doğru İnsan Kaynakları Araştırması, Human resorce Research through 2001. İstanbul: Sabah Yayıncılık.
- Arslan, M. (2008). The Work Ethic and Ahi Tradition of Turkey . Haarlem: Sota Publications.
- Arvey, R. D. & Murphy, K. R. (1998). Performance Evaluation in Work Settings. Annual Review of Psychology , 49(1), 141-168.
- Aycan, Z. (2001). Human Resource Management in Turkey: Current Issues and Future Challenges. International Journal of Manpower, 22(3), 252-261.
- Aycan, Z. (2005). The Interplay Between Cultural and Institutional/Structural Contingencies in Human Resource Management Practices. International Journal of Human Resource Management , 16(7), 1083-1119.
- Aycan, Z., Kanungo, R. N., Mendonca, M., Yu, K., Deller, J., Stahl, G. & Khursid, A. (2000). Impact of Culture on Human Resource Management Practices: A Ten Country Comparison. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 49(1), 192-221.
- Aydınlı, F. (2010). Converging Human Resource Management: A Comparative Study of Hungary and Turkey. The International Journal of Human Resource Management , 21(9), 1490-1511.
- Brewster, C. (2004). European Perspectives on Human Resource Management. Human Resource Management Review , 14(4), 365-382.
- Carlisle, K. E. & Henrie, D. (1993). Are You Doing High Impact HR? Training & Development , 47(8), 47-53.
- Cengizhan, S. & Ersun, M. O. (2000). Büyük Ölçekli Işletmelerde Eğitim Geliştirme Çalışmalarının Durum Saptaması [Training & development in large-sized entreprises], 8. Ulusal Yönetim ve Organizasyon Kongresi: Bildiriler [Proceedings in 8th National Management & Organization Congress], pp. 731-752, Nevşehir: Erciyes Üniversitesi Yayınları.
- Cetinel, F., Yolal, M. & Emeksiz, M. (2008). Human Resource Management in Small and Medium-Sized Hotels in Turkey. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism , 8(1), 43-63.
- Coetzer, J. H. (2001). Micro Enterprises, available at http:// www.du.se /PageFiles /5048 / Coetzer%20Jon-Hans-thesis.pdf (accessed 1 February, 2013).
- Collings, D. G., Demirbag, M., Mellahi, K. & Tatoğlu, E. (2010). Strategic Orientation, Human Resource Management Practices and Organizational Outcomes: Evidence from Turkey. International Journal of Human Resource Management 21(14), 2589-2613.
- Corbett, B. & Kenny, B. (2001). Appraisal and Learning in a Government Agency. Learning Organization , 8(1), 21-35.
- Cukur, C. S., de Guzman, M. R. & Carlo, G. (2004). Religiosity, Values, and Horizontal and Vertical Individualism-Collectivism: A Study of Turkey, The United States, and The Philippines. Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology. Paper 377. Available at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/377 (accessed 26 February, 2013).
- Deshpande, S. P. & Golhar, D. Y. (1994). HRM Practices in Large and Small Manufacturing Firms: A Comparative Study. Journal of Small Business Management , 32(2), 49-56.
- Dessler, G. (2010). Human Resource Management . 12th Edition. Essex: Prentice Hall.
- Emre, C. (1998). Cumhuriyet Döneminde Türkiye’de Bilim – Sosyal Bilimler II. Science in Turkey During Republic Era-Social Sciences II. Ankara: Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi.
- Erdil, O. (1998). İş Görenlerin Performans Yönetiminde Yeni Yaklaşımlar ve Sanayi Işletmelerinde Bir Uygulama. New Approaches in Performance Management and Application in Industry Organizations. 6.Ulusal İşletmecilik Kongresi: Bildiriler 6th National Management Congress: Proceedings, pp.164-180. Antalya: Akdeniz Üniversitesi Yayınları.
- Goregenli, M. (1997). Individualistic-Collectivistic Tendencies in a Turkish Sample. Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology , 28(6), 787-794.
- Gurbuz, S. & Dikmenli, O. (2007). Performance Appraisal Biases in a Public Organization: An Empirical Study. Kocaeli Universitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi , 13(1), 108-138.
- Gurbuz, S. & Mert, I. S. (2011). Impact of the Strategic Human Resource Management on Organizational Performance: Evidence from Turkey. The International Journal of Human Resource Management , 22(8), 1803-1822.
- Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. California: Sage Publications.
- Hofstede, G. (1984). Cultural Dimensions in Management and Planning. Asia Pacific Journal of Management , 1(2), 81-99.
- House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. W. & Gupta, V. (2004).Culture, Leadership & Organizations: The Globe Study of 62 Societies. California, USA: Sage Publications.
- International Monetary Fund. (2011). World Economic Outlook Update: Mild Slowdown of The Global Expansion, and Increasing Risks, available at http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/update/02/ (accessed 26 February, 2013).
- Johnson, S. (2002). Lifelong Learning and SMEs: Issues for Research and Policy. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development , 9(3), 285-295.
- Kabasakal, H. & Bodur, M. (1998). Leadership, Values and Institutions: The case of Turkey. Research Papers. Boğaziçi University, İstanbul, Turkey.
- Kabasakal, H. & Bodur, M. (2002). Arabic Cluster: A Bridge between East and West. Journal of World Business , 37(1), 40–54.
- Kotey, B. & Sheridan, A. (2004). Changing HRM Practices with Firm Growth. Journal of Small Business Enterprise Development, 11(4), 474-485.
- Locke, R., Kochan, T. & Piore, M. (1995). Employment Relations in a Changing World Economy. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
- MacMahon, J. & Murphy, E. (1999). Managerial Effectiveness in Small Enterprises: Implication for HRD. Journal of European Industrial Training , 23(1), 25-38.
- McGaughey, S. L. & De Cieri, H. (1999). Reassessment of Convergence and Divergence Dynamics: Implications for International HRM. The International Joumal of Human Resource Management , 10(2), 235-250.
- Mellahi, K., Demirbag, M., Collings, D. G., Tatoglu, E. & Hughes, M. (2013). Similarly Different: A Comparison of HRM Practices in MNE Subsidiaries and Local Firms in Turkey. The International Journal of Human Resource Management , 24(12), 2339-2368.
- Ozbilgin, M. (2011). Leadership in Turkey: Towards an Evidence Based and Contextual Approach, in B. Metcalfe & F. Mimouni (Eds.), Leadership Development in the Middle East, pp.275.294, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
- Ozcelik, A. O. (2006). Türkiye ve ABD’deki İşletmelerde İnsan Kaynakları Departmanlarının Stratejik Rolüne İlişkin Karşılaştırmalı Bir Çalışma. Comparative Study about the Strategic Role of Human Resource Departments in Turkish and US Organizations. Yönetim Bilimleri Dergisi , 4(1), 69-97.
- Ozçelik, A. O. & Aydinli, F. (2006). Strategic Role of HRM in Turkey: A Three-Country Comparative Analysis. Journal of European Industrial Training , 30(4), 310 – 327.
- Oztürk, Z. (1995). İşletmelerde Personel Seçme Yöntemleri. Personnel Selection Techniques in Organizations. Verimlilik Dergisi , 2, 41-59.
- Peretz, H. & Fried, Y. (2012). National Cultures, Performance Appraisal Practices, and Organizational Absenteeism and Turnover: A Study across 21 Countries. Journal of Applied Psychology , 97(2), 448-459.
- Rowley, C. & Benson, J. (2002). Convergence and Divergence in Asian Human Resource Management. Californian Management Review , 44(2), 90-109.
- Safak, I. & Okan, T. (2010). Determination of Performance Evaluation Criteria’s in Forestry Organization: A Turkish Forest District Case Study. African Journal of Agricultural Research , 5(18), 2535-2543.
- Sale, M. L. (2004). Performance Appraisal along Cultural Dimensions: Truth or Consequences. International Journal of Strategic Cost Management, 2, 3-9.
- Schuler, R. S. & Rogovsky, N. (1998). Understanding Compensation Practice Variations across Firms: The Impact of National Culture. Journal of International Business Studies , 29(1), 159-177.
- Sozer, S. (2004). An Evaluation of Current Human Resource Management Practices in the Turkish Private Sector. Unpublished Master Thesis. Ankara: Middle East Technical University.
- Sumer, H. C. (2000). Performans Değerlendirmesine Tarihsel Bir Bakış Ve Kültürel Bir Yaklaşım. In Z. Aycan (Eds.), Akademisyenler ve Profesyoneller Bakış Açısıyla Türkiye’de Yönetim, Liderlik ve İnsan Kaynakları Uygulamaları, pp.57-90, Ankara: Türk Psikologlar Derneği Yayınları.
- Tanova, C. & Nadiri, H. (2005). Recruitment and Training Policies and Practices: The Case of Turkey as an EU Candidate. Journal of European Industrial Training , 29(9), 694-711.
- Turkish Republic Ministry of Finance. (2012). Temel Economik Göstergeler-Türkiye Ekonomisi [Basic Economic IndicatorsTurkish Economy], available at http://www.sgb.gov.tr/ESAD/Sayfalar/TemelEkonomikGostergeler. (accessed at August, 31,2013).
- Turkish Republic Treasury. (2011). Turkish Economy Output and Growth Report, available at http://www.hazine.org.tr/en/index.php/turkish-economy/output-growth (accessed January, 30, 2013).
- Unal, O. F. (2012). A Research on Performance Appraisal in Turkey. WEI International European Academic Conference Proceedings, Zagrep-Croatia.
- Usdiken, B. (1996). Importing Theories of Management and Organization: The Case of Turkish Academia. International Studies of Management and Organization , 26 (3), 33-46.
- Uyargil, C. & Dundar, G. (2000). Işletmelerde Insan Kaynakları Fonksiyonunun Stratejik Niteliğinin Belirlenmesine Yönelik Bir Araştırma. A Study for Determining the Strategic Quality of Human Resource Function in Organizations. 8. Ulusal Yönetim ve Organizasyon Kongresi: Bildiriler Proceedings in 8th National Management & Organization Congress, pp.675- 688. Nevşehir: Erciyes Üniversitesi Yayınları.
- Uyargil, C., Ozçelik, O. & Dundar, G. (2001). Cranfield Uluslararası Stratejik İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimi Araştırması. 1999-2000 Türkiye Raporu Cranfield International Strategic Human Resource Management Research, 1999-2000 Turkey Report. No. 408, İşletme İktisadı Enstitüsü Yayınları, İstanbul.
Downloads
No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.
How to Cite
Share this article
License
Copyright (c) 2013 Ozge Tayfur (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.
Keywords
Section
Published
Submissions
Have research to publish? Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies welcomes submissions.
Make a Submission