Competitive strategies in small and medium-sized businesses: A research on developing competitive strategies for small and medium-sized businesses in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus while preparing for the European Union

IV ABSTRACT COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES: A RESEARCH ON DEVELOPING COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS WHILE PREPARING FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION Doğan ÜNLÜCAN Ph. D Thesis, Department of Business Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hüseyin ÖZGEN January 2004, 255 pages Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) play an important role in the economic development and welfare of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), because they operate nearly in the whole sectors of the country. Embargoes, * set by the United Nations (UN) and the European Court, and being a small island state have caused many problems for SMEs. To minimize these problems and to create a competitive business environment can be achieved only through identifying problems and applying appropriate competitive strategies while preparing for the European Union (EXT). The aim of the study is to gather information concerning competitive strengths and to recommend appropriate competitive strategies to SMEs. To do this, the latest company list is obtained from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry. To conduct the study, competitive strategies are analyzed, then competitive strategies that are appropriate and used by SMEs are determined, and finally the information concerning SMEs are investigated. As a result of the study, the competitiveness, strengths and weaknesses of SMEs are analyzed, and recommendations produced. SPSS 10.1 statistical package for Windows is used to analyze data. Finally, deficiencies in competitiveness are identified and the suitable strategies produced and offered for SMEs. Key Words: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Small and Medium-Sized Business, Competition, Competitive Advantage, European Union.