KOSGEB practices on the new public management and governance axis: Western Mediterranean and Denizli examples

In the 1980s, the traditional public administration concept, characterized by a centralized and bureaucratic structure, began to decline, while the new public management concept, emphasizing private sector management principles, started to rise. In the 2000s and beyond, the concept of governance has become more widespread. All three management approaches continue to coexist in the world. While some countries emphasize traditional public administration, others have a stronger focus on new public management and governance concepts. In the thesis study, the Presidency of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB), one of the important public institutions in Turkey, was chosen as the research subject and examined. Established during the rise of the New Public Management approach, KOSGEB, as a service-oriented organization with a mission to support SMEs in the economic field, was deemed worthy of investigation as a public institution. The aim was to determine the compatibility of the institution with the New Public Management approach and the concept of governance, and to provide recommendations that would contribute to its mission. Within the scope of the study, a literature review was conducted to examine theoretical and applied developments. The distinctive institutional structure of KOSGEB compared to traditional public institutions, the diversity of its activities, and the richness of its relationships established through the governance approach are noteworthy. The thesis of the research is that KOSGEB is a public institution compatible with the New Public Management approach and the concept of governance, and that its institutional structure and practices are designed with inclusivity. The research area includes the provinces of Antalya, Isparta, and Burdur in the Western Mediterranean Region, as well as the province of Denizli in the Aegean Region. Two different surveys were conducted targeting internal and external stakeholders in these provinces to obtain research data. Internal research also included participation from institution personnel in Ankara. The research involved 154 institution personnel and 374 external stakeholders. The data was analyzed, leading to findings that confirmed the thesis of the research. It was concluded that KOSGEB is generally a public institution compatible with the principles of new public management and the concept of governance, although there are areas for improvement.