Innovation in Türkiye and Egypt: The role of national culture

Deena Saleh

Article Details

Innovation in Türkiye and Egypt: The role of national culture

Authors:

Deena Saleh

Publisher:

Istanbul Ticaret University

Main Topics:

Kalkınma Ekonomisi - Makro | Sosyoekonomik Gelişim

Journal:

İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue Özel Sayı - İnovasyon ve Girişimcilik, pp.100-118

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344443

pISSN:

1303-5495

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The dynamic globe where we live necessitates research on innovation and entrepreneurship as factors fostering economic growth, competitiveness, and technological advancement. This study aims to understand the relationship between national culture dimensions and innovation in Egypt and Türkiye, and to analyze which cultural dimension contributes national innovation. The study adopts a theoretical approach using secondary data from Hofstedes cultural model, and Global Innovation Index GII indicators as a measurement of innovation. Data covers 2013-2023. It is found out that despite sharing cultural similarities like high uncertainty avoidance and power distance, Egypt and Türkiye differ in individualism and indulgence, whereas Egypt is highly collectivist, compared to Türkiye. High power distance in both countries reflects a lack of egalitarianism and can impede communication and innovation. Egypt and Türkiye have high scores on short-term orientation. This necessitates a more pragmatic approach, considering the future by focusing on education and its long-run returns. According to the GII, the performance in Egypt and Türkiye, is at expectations for their level of development, relative to their GDP. In terms of innovation, Egypt and Türkiye share weaknesses concerning their business policies and the stability of their operational environments. These deficiencies reflect systematic problems slowing the pace of innovative processes. While this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation, empirical research is necessary to analyze further how Egypt and Türkiye can increase their innovative capacity, considering their national cultural values. Moving beyond a mere focus on scores on cultural dimensions, even within a single cultural cluster like the MENA region, is a prerequisite for research on innovation. This highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to understand the exact reasons impeding innovative activities in each country. Also, country-based structural challenges that the GII identifies should be considered while acknowledging the cultural structure of society.

 The dynamic globe where we live necessitates research on innovation and entrepreneurship as factors fostering economic growth, competitiveness, and technological advancement. This study aims to understand the relationship between national culture dimensions and innovation in Egypt and Türkiye, and to analyze which cultural dimension contributes national innovation. The study adopts a theoretical approach using secondary data from Hofstedes cultural model, and Global Innovation Index GII indicators as a measurement of innovation. Data covers 2013-2023. It is found out that despite sharing cultural similarities like high uncertainty avoidance and power distance, Egypt and Türkiye differ in individualism and indulgence, whereas Egypt is highly collectivist, compared to Türkiye. High power distance in both countries reflects a lack of egalitarianism and can impede communication and innovation. Egypt and Türkiye have high scores on short-term orientation. This necessitates a more pragmatic approach, considering the future by focusing on education and its long-run returns. According to the GII, the performance in Egypt and Türkiye, is at expectations for their level of development, relative to their GDP. In terms of innovation, Egypt and Türkiye share weaknesses concerning their business policies and the stability of their operational environments. These deficiencies reflect systematic problems slowing the pace of innovative processes. While this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation, empirical research is necessary to analyze further how Egypt and Türkiye can increase their innovative capacity, considering their national cultural values. Moving beyond a mere focus on scores on cultural dimensions, even within a single cultural cluster like the MENA region, is a prerequisite for research on innovation. This highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to understand the exact reasons impeding innovative activities in each country. Also, country-based structural challenges that the GII identifies should be considered while acknowledging the cultural structure of society.

 The dynamic globe where we live necessitates research on innovation and entrepreneurship as factors fostering economic growth, competitiveness, and technological advancement. This study aims to understand the relationship between national culture dimensions and innovation in Egypt and Türkiye, and to analyze which cultural dimension contributes national innovation. The study adopts a theoretical approach using secondary data from Hofstedes cultural model, and Global Innovation Index GII indicators as a measurement of innovation. Data covers 2013-2023. It is found out that despite sharing cultural similarities like high uncertainty avoidance and power distance, Egypt and Türkiye differ in individualism and indulgence, whereas Egypt is highly collectivist, compared to Türkiye. High power distance in both countries reflects a lack of egalitarianism and can impede communication and innovation. Egypt and Türkiye have high scores on short-term orientation. This necessitates a more pragmatic approach, considering the future by focusing on education and its long-run returns. According to the GII, the performance in Egypt and Türkiye, is at expectations for their level of development, relative to their GDP. In terms of innovation, Egypt and Türkiye share weaknesses concerning their business policies and the stability of their operational environments. These deficiencies reflect systematic problems slowing the pace of innovative processes. While this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation, empirical research is necessary to analyze further how Egypt and Türkiye can increase their innovative capacity, considering their national cultural values. Moving beyond a mere focus on scores on cultural dimensions, even within a single cultural cluster like the MENA region, is a prerequisite for research on innovation. This highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to understand the exact reasons impeding innovative activities in each country. Also, country-based structural challenges that the GII identifies should be considered while acknowledging the cultural structure of society.

 İçinde yaşadığımız dinamik dünya, ekonomik büyümeyi, rekabetçiliği ve teknolojik ilerlemeyi teşvik eden faktörler olarak inovasyon ve girişimcilik üzerine araştırmaları gerekli kılmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Mısır ve Türkiyede ulusal kültür boyutları ile inovasyon arasındaki ilişkiyi anlamak ve hangi kültürel boyutun ulusal inovasyona katkıda bulunduğunu analiz etmektir. Çalışmada Hofstedenin Kültürel Modeli ve inovasyon ölçümü olarak Küresel İnovasyon Endeksi KİE göstergelerinden elde edilen ikincil veriler kullanılarak teorik bir yaklaşım benimsenmektedir. Veriler 2013-2023 yıllarını kapsamaktadır. Bulgularımıza göre, yüksek belirsizlikten kaçınma ve güç mesafesi gibi kültürel benzerlikleri paylaşmalarına rağmen, Mısır ve Türkiye bireycilik ve hoşgörü açısından farklılık gösterirken, Mısır Türkiyeye kıyasla oldukça kolektivisttir. Her iki ülkedeki yüksek güç mesafesi eşitlikçilik eksikliğini yansıtmakta ve iletişim ve inovasyonu engelleyebilmektedir. Mısır ve Türkiye kısa vadeli yönelim konusunda yüksek puanlara sahiptir. Bu durum, eğitime ve uzun vadeli getirilerine odaklanarak geleceği düşünen daha pragmatik bir yaklaşım gerektirmektedir. KİEye göre Mısır ve Türkiyenin performansı, GSYİHlerine oranla gelişmişlik düzeylerine göre beklenen seviyededir. İnovasyon açısından Mısır ve Türkiye, iş politikaları ve faaliyet ortamlarının istikrarı konusunda zayıf yönleri paylaşmaktadır. Bu eksiklikler, yenilikçi süreçlerin hızını yavaşlatan sistematik sorunları yansıtmaktadır. Bu çalışma teorik bir temel sağlamayı amaçlasa da Mısır ve Türkiyenin ulusal kültürel değerlerini göz önünde bulundurarak inovasyon kapasitelerini nasıl artırabileceklerini analiz etmek için ampirik araştırmalara ihtiyaç vardır. MENA bölgesi gibi tek bir kültürel küme içinde bile kültürel boyutlara ilişkin puanlara odaklanmanın ötesine geçmek, inovasyon araştırmaları için bir ön koşuldur. Bu durum, her bir ülkede inovasyon faaliyetlerini engelleyen nedenleri tam olarak anlamak için çok yönlü bir yaklaşıma duyulan ihtiyacı vurgulamaktadır. Ayrıca, KİEnin tanımladığı ülke bazlı yapısal zorluklar, toplumun kültürel yapısı göz önünde bulundurularak değerlendirilmelidir.

Article Details

Innovation in Türkiye and Egypt: The role of national culture

Authors:

Deena Saleh

Publisher:

Istanbul Ticaret University

Main Topics:

Kalkınma Ekonomisi - Makro | Sosyoekonomik Gelişim

Journal:

İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue Özel Sayı - İnovasyon ve Girişimcilik, pp.100-118

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344443

pISSN:

1303-5495

National Culture

Innovation

Türkiye

Egypt

Global Innovation IndexUlusal Kültür

İnovasyon

Türkiye

Mısır

Küresel İnovasyon Endeksi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Deena Saleh

Publisher: Istanbul Ticaret University

Main Topics: Kalkınma Ekonomisi - Makro | Sosyoekonomik Gelişim

Journal: İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue Özel Sayı - İnovasyon ve Girişimcilik, pp.100-118

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001344443

pISSN: 1303-5495

Issues

Authors:

Deena Saleh

Publisher:

Istanbul Ticaret University

Main Topics:

Kalkınma Ekonomisi - Makro | Sosyoekonomik Gelişim

Journal:

İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue Özel Sayı - İnovasyon ve Girişimcilik, pp.100-118

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344443

pISSN:

1303-5495