Determination of managerial resourcefulness in the Turkish hospitality industry: a grounded theory study

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to use the grounded theory approach to develop a theoretical understanding of managerial resourcefulness in Turkish culture from the perspective of both hospitality managers and subordinates. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts the grounded theory approach to systematically analyze the real experience of participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 55 participants, namely, 15 general managers and 40 department managers of five star hotels in Antalya. Computer-based qualitative data analysis software (NVivo 10) was used to analyze the data. Findings The data from the interviews suggest that Turkish managers can regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors while performing their managerial tasks. Furthermore, they are acutely aware of the role of subordinates in maximizing managerial and organizational efficiency and place such priorities at the center of the organization. The role of culture on managerial resourcefulness is visible. Despite this, organizations are not affected by the high power distance culture within the country. Specifically, managers have a management model based on mutual trust with their subordinates, giving importance to their feelings, thoughts and well-being, communicating strongly with them, expressing appreciation and gratitude for them, and emphasizing human values. Originality/value The paper is the first attempt to develop a hotel-specific model of managerial resourcefulness, which could serve as a theoretical foundation in the further examination of managerial resourcefulness. Therefore, this study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the importance of sector-specific competencies in effectively managing subordinates in Turkish culture.