(Determination of the Impact of Empowerment in Catering Firms on Staff Satisfaction, Corporate Loyalty and Corporate Image)

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to determine the effects of employee empowerment activities applied to the employees working in catering companies which operates in Edremit Bay on staff satisfaction, corporate loyalty and corporate image. Design/methodology/approach – The research population is composed of employees working in catering companies operating in Edremit Bay of Balıkesir province. The survey forms created within the scope of the research were delivered to the participants and had them return the forms. The analyses were carried out with the data acquired from 406 participants. The survey form consists of two separate parts. The first part includes information stating the demographic characteristics of the participants. The second part of the survey form comprises of the 12-item-staff empowerment scale forming the independent variables of the research and measured with four sub-dimensions. In order to create a database within the scope of the research, the data obtained were transferred to the electronic environment and the transferred data were analyzed with statistical package programs and structural equation model. Findings – In order to determine the descriptive characteristics of the research participants, the demographic features of the participants and the propositions such as how many workplaces they have worked in and how many years they have been working in this sector have been tried to be explained. 42.6% of the participants in the research are women and 57.4% are men. When the marital status is examined, it is seen that 59.1% are married. Discussion- As a result of the analyses, it was determined that the meaning and ability dimensions of the employee empowerment sub-dimensions had a positive and significant effect on institutional loyalty, the ability and impact dimensions had a positive effect on the staff satisfaction and the competence and impact dimensions had a positive and significant effect on the overall corporate image. Besides, significant and positive effects of employee satisfaction on individual and general corporate image and corporate loyalty on individual corporate image are among the other findings of the research.