Research Information System
Anadolu Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, vol.26, no.3, pp.338-379, 2025 (TRDizin)
Why do some businesses survive for decades or even centuries, while most disappear within a few years? This studyaims to examine the strategic foundations behind the success of long-lived businesses in Türkiye by focusing on 26companies in Eskişehir that have been operating continuously for more than 50 years. Within the framework ofstrategic management theory, the research aims to identify the organizational and entrepreneurial capabilities thatsustain the longevity of businesses in rapidly changing environments. While the existing literature on longevity, withits strategic perspective, mostly revolves around the resources and competencies that should be used to createcompetitive advantages, the management science perspective mostly emphasizes the practices and preferences of firms.This study contributes to this emerging conversation by providing a context-specific and empirically groundedunderstanding of longevity. Through interviews with founders and second or third generation representatives, thearticle reveals key themes such as cultural continuity and tradition, adaptability and innovation, stakeholder loyalty,operational efficiency, and market dynamics. The findings suggest that the enduring success of these businesses isbased on a combination of internal and external capabilities. The study fills an important gap in longevity researchspecific to Türkiye by contextualizing long-lived firms through a strategy-focused lens.