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1 INTRODUCTION

It is a fact accepted by all industrial and academic

societies that change in production, transportation,

and communication technologies are shaping the face

of the global competitive environment. However, the

academic studies on which strategy style is preferred

by the companies in this competitive environment are

events and the increasing environmental sensitivity in

the eyes of customers force companies to insert

environmental elements among the key determinants

of their business strategies to maintain their current

position in the market. Moreover, the term "green" has

reached an international scope by exceeding

customers' sensitivity to this issue. In this context,

Kyoto Protocol, Paris Climate Agreement, and EU

strategic nodes of global supply chains and have a

contact with the world's oceans, are forced to face

"green" certification processes due to increasing

environmental sensitivity and customer demands.

Subsequently, they use the obtained certificates to

gain a competitive advantage. It is surprising to see

that several studies have been conducted on the

environmental impact assessment of ports (Chang and

, Istambul, Turkey

ports have been used with similar purpose. In this context, this study aims to find out whether the certification

attempts of "green ports" in ports that are strategic nodes of global supply chains are strategically justified or

just an action to catch up with other competitors. Drawing on qualitative analyses, a green port corpus content

has been prepared. This corpus is comprised of 17 green certificated port CEOs’ interviews and their website

contents. The results indicate that the Turkish ports generally carry out practices that follow the trends in the

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Notteboom, 2014), but few studies have been

of our borders are on the sea, 50% of our population

of over $17.5 billion (Hürriyet, 2019). Therefore,

economic value, is expected to help fill the gaps in the

literature regarding management and strategy

research and the industry's approach to

certificates by different accredited institutions are

Turkey that have received green port certificates were

answer the research question.

The question of how new organizational styles

emerge is one that theoretical writing tries to answer

the most (Puranam et al., 2014; Rao and Kenney, 2008:

352). However, originally, the emergence of

organizations are similar to each other (Sargut and

Özen, 2007). In this context, the simulation effects of

organizations working in the same field become more

similar over time in terms of "culture, structure, and

output(s)" (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983: 147, Radaelli,

2000; Frumkin and Galaskiewicz; 2004; Beckert,2010).

However, empirical research does not look for

different qualities, but on a structural element or

application. (Hambrick vd., 2005: 317). Certification

preferences of management systems have also been

argued in the work on quality management systems

can also be considered as correct.

person) do not have enough data and in the case of

information asymmetry, they send some signals to

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Operations see sustainability as part of their

strategic planning and are looking for ways to gain a

competitive advantage by seeking new opportunities

in this direction (Parida and Wincen, 2019). Trends

from the business world can also contribute in this

servitization(Parida and Wincen, 2019). With the

circular economy, the use of materials in production

environmental issues such as water quality, dredging,

and noise, and indicates proactive initiatives by ports

environmental externalities. In the intervening years,

the concept was expanded to incorporate social

definition was expanded to include other issues such

objectives are set as "port facilities that have an

arrangements that reduce the environmental impact of

3.2 Research Design

along with the automatic content analysis method

proposed in the literature (Kunz, 2019). Below are the

words used in content analysis within the concepts

addressed in line with the purpose of the research.

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value, variety, brand, design

Dangerous, Risk, Safety, Footprint, Struggle, Friendly,

Nature, Natural, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001,

Greenhouse Gas, Gas, Trash, Sun, Sound.

mission, and goals of the official websites of 17 Green

speeches, statements, and interviews of senior port

our research. In the analysis, 12,474 words were

conducted using the QDA Miner Lite program.

4 RESULTS

frequently used in our database. These terms, which

credibility of our research due to the coverage of the

theory and terms of our research area.

concept of sustainability, such as clean, recycle,

as strategy, tactics, competitors, simple, process, stock,

reasonings have been examined. Their level of

Attachment 1 and it has been detected that only one

shown poor and extremely poor performances and

publishing channels to make announcements and give

various media channels have also been researched. As

it can be seen on the table in Attachment 1, four ports

performed poorly or very poorly, and 8 ports have

research how many of the 22 notions previously

Thus, five ports have provided well and very well

indications, one port being very well.

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The fourth assumption, in this context nineteen

different words and/or notions that are related to

The truth is that ports are trading businesses and are

not disposed to spend currency unless it is essential;

and the extent of their effect continue across the

maritime and also depth into the hinterland. Ports'

intertwined with stakeholders on several scales and in

The high cost being a certificated green port brings

organizational change supports the belief that

obtaining the green port certificate requires strategic

and business processes.

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