Early internationalization and performance of small high-tech "born-globals"

TLDR: In this paper, the authors investigate the early internationalization and the performance of small firms in technology-intensive industries using a sample of 278 small US firms in the technology intensive industries, and find that such organizational variables as firm size and international experience have a non-linear, inverted U-shaped relationship with these firms' early internationalisation.

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the early internationalization and the performance of small firms in technology‐intensive industriesDesign/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 278 small US firms in technology‐intensive industries, this paper employs quantitative methodologies to test hypothesesFindings – The findings indicate that such organizational variables as firm size and international experience have a non‐linear, inverted U‐shaped relationship with these firms’ early internationalization Some strategic variables, such as R&D intensity, have significant impacts, whereas others, such as advertising intensity and strategic alliances, have none However, the interactions between these strategic variables have a more significant influence upon these firms’ early internationalization than do the individual strategic variables in isolation Moreover, early internationalization has significant and positive impacts on the performance of these firmsPractical implications – The p