Crisis readiness, strategic orientation and performance: evidence from Turkey

The present study investigates the intersection of crisis management and strategic management using a sample drawn from the Turkish hotel industry. In particular, the study seeks relationships between preparations in organisational crisis-oriented functions (crisis readiness), applied strategy (represented by strategy typologies), and perceived performance. In addition, the study investigates if crisis readiness varies depending on the demographic properties of organisations. The findings clearly indicate a relationship between crisis readiness and strategy typology, namely cost leadership, differentiation and focus. In addition, Turkish hotel firms classified as reactors exhibit a higher level of crisis readiness than defenders, analyser and prospectors; moreover, a significant difference exists between reactors and prospectors. Significant relationships between crisis readiness and financial performance and crisis readiness and non-financial performance are found. However, a hypothesis concerning crisis readiness differences among hotels with respect to organisational demographics is not supported.