Women Executives, Crisis Strategies, and Firm Outcomes in Turkish SMEs During COVID-19
World Journal, cilt.7, sa.146, ss.1-25, 2026 (ESCI)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 7 Sayı: 146
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/world7090146
- Dergi Adı: World Journal
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-25
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Abstract
Gendered leadership
theories suggest that women executives may adopt distinct crisis management
approaches, yet evidence from private-sector small- and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) remains limited.
This study examines associations between women’s executive presence, crisis
strategies, and firm outcomes during COVID-19. Using survey data from 207 SMEs
across 12 sectors in Istanbul, Türkiye, we apply non-parametric tests and
regression models controlling for firm age, size, and sector. Firms with women
executives reported stronger cash-flow sustainability and cost management
outcomes but no significant differences in revenue generation or overall
performance. They also scored higher on a composite defensive strategy index,
although measurable outcome differences were limited to the cost-related
dimension. These findings suggest that the association between women’s
executive presence and crisis outcomes is domain-specific rather than uniform
across performance dimensions. Because the indicator captures executive
presence rather than decision-making authority, these associations may also reflect
organizational characteristics with which women’s executive presence coincides.
Keywords: women’s leadership; crisis management; COVID-19; business
strategies; SMEs; cost management; revenue management; ambidextrous strategy