Management Issues of SMEs in Turkey from the Perspective of Sustainability

Abstract

Sustainability for SMEs is a process of development target to be achieved by increasing the competitiveness in theglobal market. In this context, the purpose of this study is to investigate the SMEs in Turkey within the framework ofmanagement issues and corporate governance viewpoint and to present an outline of possible solutions. Anotherpurpose of this study is to contribute management literature in terms of shedding lights on the relations ofsustainability and management practices on SMEs to raise awareness. In order to conduct this study method ofdetailed literature review is used. Detected management issues and solutions are examined into four main categories,which are (a) the lack of awareness of the sustainability and failure of implementation of this concept to themanagement practices, (b) lack of understanding of the relationship between the expectations of stakeholders onsustainability and company's future interests, (c) lack of the vision about sustainability and presence of unclearlydefined rules, roles and processes within the companies, (d) lack of skills to analyze the short and long term effects tothe company of not taking sustainability concept into decision making mechanisms.