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Article Citation - WoS: 17Citation - Scopus: 24The New Middle Class in Emerging Markets: How Values and Demographics Influence Discretionary Consumption(Wiley, 2019) Belbag, Aybegum G.; Uner, M. Mithat; Cavusgil, Erin; Cavusgi, S. TamerThe rise of new middle-class consumers in rapidly transforming emerging markets has attracted the attention of Western business executives. What they know about this growing segment of customers will determine whether they succeed or fail in these markets. The present study examines the factors that drive the discretionary consumption of this new middle class, including the effects of consumerist values, religious values, occupation, education levels, and ownership of fixed assets. The study draws its insights from data gathered from 391 new middle-class consumers in Ankara, the second-largest city in Turkey. The findings provide important implications for businesses, both indigenous and foreign. An overall implication is that managers ought to understand and qualify the new middle class in emerging markets not simply by their access to disposable income but by deeper attitudinal and behavioral characteristics.Article Investigating Student Churn Among Business Schools in Higher Education(Tuba-turkish Acad Sciences, 2023) Yalcin, Aybueke; Uner, M. Mithat; Karatepe, Osman M.; Aboramadan, MohammedThe purpose of our paper is to examine what the reasons for student churn are and why students begin their educational careers in a school of business and then leave and register at another university. Following a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 students (11 females, 20 males; mean age: 21.12; range: 19 to 25 years) who had switched from one business school to another in Ankara, the capital city of T & uuml;rkiye, and QSR NVivo 12 for Windows was used to analyze the qualitative data. The findings reveal that the main reason of student churn is associated with obstacles regarding the use of English as the medium of instruction. This is followed by dissatisfaction with the school or the department. The reasons for students preferring another university are also related to having friends at the university chosen, proximity to home, referrals, and family members. The study provides important insights to university administrators pertaining to the reasons associated with student churn in higher education. When the results are examined by university type, it is seen that the dissatisfaction with the university or department was the primary reason for the students who left the state universities, while the foreign language problem was the reason for the students who left the foundation universities. Considering the findings of the study, the university administration should concentrate on how to improve students' foreign language skills, invest more in research and innovation, and increase social activities to improve communication among students.Article Citation - WoS: 23Citation - Scopus: 31On the Internationalization of Turkish Hospital Chains: a Dynamic Capabilities Perspective(Elsevier, 2020) Uner, M. Mithat; Cetin, Burak; Cavusgil, S. TamerHow do professional service firms build the capabilities required for effective international operations? Although the internationalization of manufacturing firms is a widely studied topic, the literature on the internationalization of service firms remains scant. The problem is even more acute when it comes to studies of professional services such as healthcare organizations and hospitals. Yet, we encounter remarkable examples of international market expansion by professional service firms. In this paper, we report on a study of large privately-owned hospital operators from the emerging economy of Turkey, based on in-depth interviews with senior executives. Taking advantage of Turkey's strategic location in the region, these firms have shown extraordinary entrepreneurial initiative expanding their operations beyond the home market over the past two decades. Even more impressive is the creative strategies these firms have been deploying in terms of market entry modes. These range from medical tourism to setting up diagnostic clinics abroad, operating full-service hospitals in key markets, management contracts, and attracting equity capital from international investment firms. We draw from the theory of dynamic capabilities in order to explain the success these firms have had in cultivating international market opportunities. We contend that it takes a variety of organizational capabilities for traditionally domestic-market focused firms to expand into international markets. We provide an integrative discussion and offer implications for advancing knowledge and managerial practice.
