Strategic Leadership in Civil Society Organizations: A Research on Turkish Charities Performing International Operations

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how and at what level civil society organizations fulfill strategic leadership implementations. The scope of the study involves Turkish Charities that have international operations under the name of civil society organizations. We have collected the data from the interviews of the charity managers, and we have preferred using the qualitative method. We have analyzed the data with descriptive analysis technique. As a result of the study, we have found out that the charities operating internationally under the name of civil society organizations have fulfilled strategic leadership implementations effectively, in identifying and developing the core competences, forming a sustainable and effective organizational culture, and controlling the strategic activities in a balanced way. On the other hand, we have determined that these organizations cannot implement strategic leadership effectively in identifying the strategic intent of the organization, developing human capital and emphasizing ethical practices in organizational culture. We have also derived from the study that the Turkish charities do not have planned strategic leadership implementations, and the managers have benefitted from strategic leadership implementations depending on the conditions which they are in.