Investigation of the relationship between strategic thinking and merit understanding of public employees in the COVID 19

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the civil servants' understanding of strategic management and merit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our research is limited to the data collection tools and the answers given by the participants to the questions. The sample consists of public employees from Ardahan province; Ardahan Governorship, Provincial Police Department, Special Provincial Administrations, Provincial Revenue Office, and Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports. It consists of a total of 361 public personnel. In the study, the average of the scores of the responses of the public employees about their strategic management understanding was determined as x=3.58±0.87. When the sub-dimensions were examined, the average score in the source dimension was found as x=3.60±0.96 and the average score in the perimeter dimension was x=3.56±0.86. Accordingly, we can conclude that the strategic management perceptions of public employees are at a high level. In addition, the average of the scores of the responses by the public employees about their understanding of merit was determined as x=3.73±0.94. When the sub-dimensions were examined; the average score in the competence dimension was found to be x=3.68±1.02, the average score in the cultivation dimension was found to be x=3.74±0.99, the average score in the assignment dimension was found to be x=3.79±0.99, and the average score in the evaluation dimension was found to be x=3.72±1.06. Accordingly, we can conclude that the competence understanding of public employees is also at a high level.