Marketing Management Functions of Construction Companies: Evidence From Turkish Contractors

Globalization, the restructuring of the world economy, changes experienced in project financing and delivery systems, the pervasive utilization of information and communication technologies (ICT), and the intensity of the competition prevailing in the market compel contractors to rethink the competitive forces and client expectations, which in turn necessitate a well planned marketing orientation for business planning. The Turkish construction industry is not different from the global construction industry in the context of intense competitiveness as Turkish contractors do not only undertake projects in the domestic market but also in foreign markets including the Commonwealth of Independent States, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia, etc. They also often face intense competition from local and foreign companies such as U.S., Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, U.K., and Korean contractors. Given the intense competition, effective marketing of their services is imperative for Turkish contractors in achieving competitive advantage. This study explores the marketing management functions of Turkish construction companies and the extent to which they carry out traditional marketing practices via a questionnaire survey of 71 Turkish contractors. The survey results revealed that Turkish contractors made use of marketing management functions to some extent, yet responding contractors did not attach adequate importance to differentiating their products/services from the products/services offered by their competitors. Since achieving client satisfaction by means of product and/or service differentiation is the ultimate goal, Turkish contractors should carry out all of the traditional marketing practices in order to differentiate themselves in the market, and thereby create competitive advantage. Santrauka Globalizacija, persitvarkanti pasaulio ekonomika, kvalifikacijos pokyčiai projektu finansavimo ir tiekimo sistemose, plačiai naudojamos informacines ir ryšiu technologijos bei konkurencijos rinkoje vyraujantis intensyvumas verčia rangovus persvarstyti konkurencines jegas ir vartotoju lūkesčius, o tam reikia gerai suplanuotos valdymo orientacijos verslui planuoti. Turkijos statybos pramone nesiskiria nuo pasaulines statybos pramones intensyvaus konkurencingumo kontekste. Turkijos rangovai ne vieni imasi projektu vidaus bei užsienio rinkose, iskaitant Nepriklausomu valstybiu sandrauga, Afrika, Vidurio Rytus, Europa, Azija ir t. t. Jie taip pat dažnai susiduria su didele vietiniu ir užsienio kompaniju konkurencija, tokiu kaip JAV, Kinijos, Japonijos, Prancūzijos, Ispanijos, Vokietijos, Didžiosios Britanijos ir Korejos rangovai. Atsižvelgiant i intensyvia konkurencija, efektyvu ju paslaugu valdyma, Turkijos rangovams būtina pasiekti konkurencini prana‐šuma. Šiuo tyrimu analizuojamos Turkijos statybos bendroviu rinkodaros valdymo funkcijos ir apimtys, taikant tradicine rinkodara. Apklausoje apžvelgta daugiau nei 70 Turkijos rangovu anketu. Apklausos rezultatai atskleide, kad Turkijos rangovai tam tikru mastu pasinaudojo rinkodaros valdymo funkcijomis, tačiau jie neskyre pakankamai svarbos išskirdami savo produktus ir paslaugas, konkurentus ir ju teikiamas paslaugas. Kadangi pagrindinis tikslas ‐ vartotoju, naudojančiu produkta, pasitenkinimas ir (arba) paslaugu išskirtinumas, Turkijos rangovai turetu ištirti visus tradicines rinkodaros ipročius, noredami išskirti save rinkoje ir taip sukurti konkurencini pranašuma.