Risk bias and the link between motivation and new venture post-entry international growth

Purpose – This study applies Oviatt and McDougall’s (2005) model of forces influencing the speed of internationalisation to small, export oriented enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance of the forces enabling, motivating, mediating and moderating internationalisation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the manner in which these forces manifest themselves in the market. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research approach utilising eight case studies within Norway and Ireland was adopted in order to facilitate theory building required for this study. Findings – The findings demonstrate that four forces in particular are found to be strongly significant to the speed of internationalisation among the case SMEs: the enabling force of technology, the mediating force of entrepreneurial actor perceptions/owner-managers’ global vision and the moderating forces of foreign market knowledge and tie strength in networks. Practical implications – The empirical evid...

Forces influencing the speed of internationalisation

The European Proceedings of Social & Behavioural Sciences

This study provides an empirical test of the assumptions that many existing models of internationalization make regarding the institutional factors influencing internationalization by small to medium-sized firms (SMEs). Utilizing a sample of over 2100 SMEs in nine countries, the roles of such institutional attributes as the nature of the economic and legal systems and the levels of economic and political risk are examined in light of the impact that these factors have on the levels of international activity of SMEs. The results indicated that each of these factors may play an important role in either motivating or enabling internationalization.

/pdf/the-impact-of-the-institutional-environment-on-sme-hz3ntmiuz0.pdf

The Impact of the Institutional Environment on SME Internationalization: An Assessment of the Environmental Assumptions of Emerging Integrated Models of Internationalization

Purpose and Problem : The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of capital factors in the internationalisation of South African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Capital factors include financial, social and human capital, which are traditionally scarce in a SME emerging market context.
Methodology : The study draws upon a sample of 67 internationalised South African SMEs using an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses are used to analyse various features of internationalisation and perceptions of capital factors.
Findings : Results confirm that financial capital items are perceived as inhibitors to the SMEs ability to internationalise.
Implications : Findings provide policy-makers and practitioners with additional insights into the key constraints to internationalisation of South African SMEs.

/pdf/internationalisation-of-south-african-smes-the-role-of-3w20e34a3e.pdf

Internationalisation of South African SMEs : the role of capital factors

Studies on the phenomenon of internationalentrepreneurship often focus on only the international aspect, ignoring theentrepreneurial aspect.This research examines several popular theories ofinternational entrepreneurship, and then develops a theoretical framework thatcombines concepts of both international and entrepreneurship research. Various theoretical frameworks regarding international entrepreneurship arediscussed. Included in the discussion are the followingtheories:process-stage theory, the network approach, resource-basedtheory, and foreign direct investment theory.The discussion of eachtheory includes information about the conceptualization of the theory, thebenefits of the theory, and the limitations of the theory.Following thesesections, the population ecology approach is described. The population ecology approach includes a combination of both internationalresearch theory and entrepreneurial research theory, considering issues such asentrepreneurial personality traits and "push-pull" theory.Byconsidering theories relating to both international business andentrepreneurship, researchers can gain a better understanding of the decisionsand processes encountered by international entrepreneurs.The populationecology approach provides researchers with a conceptual framework forunderstanding how entrepreneurial characteristics may influence anentrepreneur's decision to internationalize. (AKP)

A. Bakr Ibrahim

Papers

Internationalization: Motive and Process