Post-entry internationalization speed of SMEs: The role of relational mechanisms and foreign market knowledge

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 101761
Author(s):  
Nadia Zahoor ◽  
Omar Al-Tabbaa
2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 812-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byoungho Jin ◽  
Sojin Jung

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to, built upon Johanson and Vahlne’s (2009) Business Network Internationalization Process Model, explore the role of personal networks and business networks and their impact on foreign market knowledge and performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) after international market entry. Design/methodology/approach – With a total mailing list of 2,250 US firms, data were collected via a mail survey in accordance with the methods of Dillman et al. (2008). Findings – An empirical analysis of 105 SME cases revealed that business networks increased foreign market knowledge, which in turn also heightened the international performance of the SMEs. This confirmed the mediating role of market knowledge between business networks and international performance. Personal networks, however, provided little support in helping SMEs achieve foreign market knowledge and international performance. Originality/value – This study contributes unique empirical evidence demonstrating that business network internationalization models can be applicable to the context of SMEs; that is, having access to such a network (i.e. a business network) is found to be a critical factor of international performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Sumitro Sarkum ◽  
Abd. Rasyid Syamsuri ◽  
Supriadi Supriadi

This study aims to meet the theoretical needs in answering the problem of the role of the marketing function on the dynamic capability that involves the role of multi actors through engagement. In particular, the study discusses the capabilities of SMEs’ business strategy in the offline to online market. The population of this research are owners, managers, and owners and managers of SMEs in Indonesia. The results of this study indicate that the integration of the supply chain into engagement can address the problem of the role of the marketing function that connects marketing and operations. Supply chain engagement is also able to moderate employee engagement to dynamic marketing engagement but not significantly moderate customer engagement. Meanwhile, the basis of integration as a dynamic capability in market knowledge has a significant effect on the multi-actor engagement consisting of customer engagement, employee engagement, and supply chain engagement. Summary statement of contribution: Our research builds on the three elements of multi-actor engagement that are significant against dynamic marketing engagement. The main finding of this research is that the concept of novelty can answer the proposition with the result that dynamic marketing engagement can improve business performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Hilmersson ◽  
Martin Johanson ◽  
Heléne Lundberg ◽  
Stylianos Papaioannou

PurposeFew researchers and even fewer practitioners would deny that serendipitous events play a central role in the growth process of firms. However, most international marketing models ignore the role of serendipity in the opportunity discovery process. The authors provide a nuanced view on international opportunities by developing the role of serendipitous opportunities in the foreign market entry process. The authors develop a model integrating the notions of serendipity, entrepreneurial logic, experiential knowledge and network knowledge redundancy. From the study’s model, the authors condense three sets of hypotheses on the relationships among experiential knowledge and entry strategy, network knowledge redundancy, entry strategy and serendipity.Design/methodology/approachThe authors confront the study’s hypotheses with data collected on-site at 168 Swedish firms covering 234 opportunities, and to test the hypotheses, the authors ran ordinary least squares (OLS) regression tests in three steps.FindingsThe results of the study’s analysis reveal that experiential knowledge and network knowledge redundancy both lead to a logic based on rigid planning and systematic search, which in turn reduces the likelihood that serendipitous opportunities will be realized in the foreign market entry process.Originality/valueThis is the first study that develops a measure of opportunities that are the outcome of serendipitous events. In addition, the authors integrate network and learning theories and internationalization theory by establishing antecedents to, and outcomes of, the entry strategy.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidatu Abubakari ◽  
Kwame Simpe Ofori ◽  
Henry Boateng ◽  
Koffi N’Da ◽  
Robert Ebo Hinson

Purpose It is well documented in the extant literature that knowledge plays a crucial role in small and medium enterprise (SME) internationalization. Exporting SMEs from developing economies faces many challenges, including lack of knowledge about institutions in foreign markets, inadequate knowledge about foreign institutions and limited internationalization knowledge (IK). However, research on the export performance of SMEs has thus far focused on the internationalization strategies of multinational corporations. This study aims to explore the effect of foreign market knowledge on SME export performance. The authors also assessed the moderating effect of employee absorptive capacity in the knowledge-performance nexus. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted a survey design to collect data from owners/managers of SMEs exporters in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed based on convenience. Of this number, 257 usable responses were used in the final analysis. The authors tested the proposed model using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Findings The findings show that the three types of foreign market knowledge tested in this study, namely, foreign institutional knowledge (FIK), foreign business knowledge and IK have positive and significant effects on SME exporters’ performance. It also shows that employees’ absorptive capacity affects the relationship between FIK and SME exporters’ performance. Originality/value The study demonstrates the types of knowledge relevant to SME export performance. The study further demonstrates the moderating effect of employee absorptive capacity on the relationship between knowledge and export performance. The study advances existing knowledge on SME performance, especially from an emerging economy context.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariza Hashim

SMEs presence is significant nowadays to most economies, particularly those from emerging countries. The internationalization of these firms is no longer an option; it is indeed necessary for them to follow the wave of globalization. Despite of their constraints, Malaysian SMEs are struggling to expand into the international market and compete internationally to sustain their foothold in the country. Various factors have forced SMEs in Malaysia to engage internationally, however the ventures are arduous to be accomplished independently. As a result, the Malaysian government has initiated various efforts in supporting them to stand in the international arena. Many agencies have been established and numerous programs have been developed to encourage SMEs internationalization. This study aims to unfold the challenges faced by SMEs from emerging countries in expanding internationally by examining the business environment in the country. The study finds that, despite various supports offered by the government, Malaysian SMEs continue to struggle in the global market due various factors including market knowledge, technological and skills capabilities, and products quality.


2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 733-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Koch ◽  
Jochen Späth ◽  
Harald Strotmann
Keyword(s):  

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 516-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Claus ◽  
Wen-Pin Tzeng ◽  
U. G Liebert ◽  
Teryl K. Frey

Rubella virus (RUBV) contains a plus-strand RNA genome with two ORFs, one encoding the non-structural replicase proteins (NS-ORF) and the second encoding the virion structural proteins (SP-ORF). This study describes development and use of a trans-encapsidation system for the assembly of infectious RUBV-like replicon particles (VRPs) containing RUBV replicons (self replicating genomes with the SP-ORF replaced with a reporter gene). First, this system was used to map signals within the RUBV genome that mediate packaging of viral RNA. Mutations within a proposed packaging signal did not significantly affect relative packaging efficiency. The insertion of various fragments derived from the RUBV genome into Sindbis virus replicons revealed that there are several regions within the RUBV genome capable of enhancing encapsidation of heterologous replicon RNAs. Secondly, the trans-encapsidation system was used to analyse the effect of alterations within the capsid protein (CP) on release of VRPs and subsequent initiation of replication in newly infected cells. Deletion of the N-terminal eight amino acids of the CP reduced VRP titre significantly, which could be partially complemented by native CP provided in trans, indicating that this mutation affected an entry or post-entry event in the replication cycle. To test this hypothesis, the trans-encapsidation system was used to demonstrate the rescue of a lethal deletion within P150, one of the virus replicase proteins, by CP contained within the virus particle. This novel finding substantiated the functional role of CP in early post-entry replication.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document