Differences in the perceptions of firms regarding the problems they experience in export: Gazi̇antep province case

In today's challenging competitive environment, only domestic markets are not enough for companies to continue their assets. For this reason, it has become a necessity for companies to entry to foreign markets. The most used method for this is exporting. Export is one of the most important organizational activities for the companies to continue their existence. Firms encounter with many problems when exporting. Firms that can tackle these problems are becoming advantageous and therefore more successful. There are not many studies about the problems that companies have experienced in exporting. In this study, differences in the perception of the problems experienced by firms in exporting are examined. To this end, a total of 146 companies engaged in exports in Gaziantep province were interviewed. Survey method was used as data collection tool in the study. Data obtained from the study were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 packet program. As a result of the analysis, it was seen that the biggest problem of the firms was the "devaluation of domestic currency" and "procedural complexity". As a result of the statistical analysis, it was seen that small firms had fewer problems in terms of export pricing constraints, outsourced logistic limitations, national export policy issues, and big companies had less problems with the devaluation of domestic money. As a result of the study, it was also found that firms with more experience in exporting had less problems in terms of export information/market communication and domestic currency devaluation issues.