Rapid internationalization of traditional SMEs: Between gradualist models and born globals

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• 作者：Igor Kalinic^a ; ^{i.kalinic@rug.nl}  ; [Author Vitae] ; Cipriano Forza^b  ; [Author Vitae]
• 关键词：Case studies ; International entrepreneurship ; Rapid internationalization ; SMEs
• 刊名：International Business Review
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：19_09695931
• 类别：bus
• 出版时间：August, 2012
• 卷：21
• 期：4
• 页码：694-707
• 文件大小：330 K

摘要

Within the last 20 years, a number of traditional small-medium enterprises (SMEs) have accelerated their international commitment by investing in distant countries despite limited market knowledge, limited use of networks, and limited international experience of the entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to draw research attention to this phenomenon and to compliment the existing literature on internationalization process of SMEs.

We argue that traditional SMEs are able to speed up their internationalization process by, thus, rapidly catching up with the increasing global competition. The peculiar path followed by SMEs is described by analyzing five case firms and explained by contrasting to the leading literature. The empirical evidence suggests that specific strategic focus (as opposed to knowledge-intensity, international network, and international experience) is the determinant success aspect of the change in the internationalization process.