The composition & functioning of the Turkish corporate boards : an empirical study

Abstract

This study focuses on the composition and functioning of the Turkish corporate boards to better understand the roles undertaken by the boards while steering the companys’ into the future. The research sample consists of 20 organizations that include 9 holdings, 3 joint ventures, 4 small firms, and 4 independent cases. These independent cases refer to those organizations that do not fit into any of the subgroups listed above. The results are based on the responses of the board members to the open-ended questions during 30-40 minute interviews. The comparative evaluation and discussion of the observed board practices in each subgroup are presented in full detail. The compatibility of the findings with the research perspectives used in previous studies are pointed out. In spite of the limited sample size, the findings enable the generation of valuable research hypotheses which can be tested by more extensive studies in the future.