Evaluating the competencies of entry-level logistics professionals in Turkey: Perspectives from logistics executives

In the context of Turkey’s rapidly expanding logistics sector, aligning higher education outcomes with labor market needs has become increasingly critical. This study develops an enhanced Business, Logistics, and Management (BLM) framework to identify the competencies required of entry-level logistics professionals in Turkey. Utilizing this framework, the study evaluates the perceived importance of these competencies from the perspective of industry managers while simultaneously assessing the actual performance levels of entry-level professionals in practice. Empirical data were gathered from logistics and supply chain managers via a survey to conduct an Importance-Performance Matrix (IPM) analysis. By mapping the perceived importance of competencies against actual performance levels, the matrix identifies specific strengths and critical areas for improvement. The results show that 79 out of the 81 competencies in the enhanced framework are considered essential by industry leaders. In addition, for 10% of these competencies, the performance of entry-level logistics professionals falls below the importance assigned, highlighting them as critical areas for urgent improvement.