THE EFFECT OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT ON THE EXPORT PERFORMANCE OF FIRM: THE CASE OF GAZIANTEP PROVINCE

Abstract

While the amount of exports affects national economy on the macro scale, it affects many factors such as profitability, productivity and turnover of firms on the micro scale. For this reason, export performance of firms has great importance within national economy in terms of being afloat at the global competition. In the economy literature at this study, there are many variables that affect the export performance of firms. However, Human Resources Management (HRM) and Total Quality Management (TQM) which are two of the most important factors affecting the export performance, which is the dependent variable, was accepted as independent variable. Research data was obtained from 216 middle and large sized firms that are operating in Gaziantep province. Measure Model that consisting of Total Quality Management construct (Top Management Commitment, Employee Quality Training, Employee Empowerment, Customer Focus), Human Resources Management construct (Recruitment and Selection, Training and Development, Performance Appraisal) and Export Performance and Importer Relationship construct (Export Performance, Importer Relationships) was confirmed using Second Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis. And research hypothesis was tested using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Research findings demonstrate that Total Quality Management has a negative and significant (β=-0,110, p<0,01) effect on the Export Performance and Importer Relationship and that Human Resources Management has a positive and significant (β=0,150, p<0,01) effect on the Export Performance and Importer Relationship.