Financial decision making process with mixed method: Examining investment options in the technology sector

This thesis study aims to determine the investment options and the criteria affecting these options in the financial decision-making processes of companies operating in the dynamic and changing technology sector. In this study, where both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used, the data obtained from the interviews with technology company managers were evaluated with content analysis, and the main criteria that the managers took into consideration in their financial investments and the areas in which they invested were determined. Investment criteria determined by the qualitative method were analyzed with AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process), which is one of the quantitative decision-making methods and among the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the most important criterion was the available resources, followed by cost, profitability, financial risk, global financial conditions, company goals and policies, employee qualifications, technological trends, customer needs, market conditions, government policies and competition. It has been determined that technology companies give priority to production-enhancing technologies, brand and production capacity/branch investments. Other important investment areas are technological products, human resources development and start-up investments. These findings show that both internal and external factors affect the investment decisions of technology companies and that these processes are managed with a multi-criteria approach. In this thesis study, an exploratory sequential mixed method was adopted and a different perspective on the financial decision-making processes of technology companies was revealed. The study aims to add unique value to the sector by providing important suggestions that will help technology companies make more sound and conscious investment decisions in the future.