Journal Article

A multidimensional perspective of SME internationalization speed: The influence of entrepreneurial characteristics

Abstract

This paper contributes to a multidimensional perspective on the speed of SME internationalization. It examines the influence of entrepreneurial characteristics – experience, rationales and innovation strategies – on multiple dimensions of internationalization speed. Findings from a sample of 180 SMEs show that earliness, speed of deepening, and speed of geographic diversification can be viewed as three different strategic alternatives and that each dimension is predicted by a different set of entrepreneurial antecedents. Earliness of internationalization is associated with entrepreneurs’ international business experience and their perception of opportunities abroad as well as preference for an innovation strategy characterized by ambidextrous innovation. Speed of deepening is related to entrepreneurs’ international business experience, their orientation towards differentiation vis-à-vis competitors, and commitment to innovation and a strategy focusing on exploration. These results indicate the importance of distinguishing between different forms of innovation. Speed of geographic diversification is predicted only by entrepreneurs’ orientation towards differentiation vis-à-vis competitors.

Attached files

Authors

Hsieh, Linda
Child, John
Narooz, Rose
Elbanna, Said
Karmowska, Joanna
Marinova, Svetla
Puthusserry, Pushyarag
Tsai, Terence
Zhang, Yunlu

Oxford Brookes departments

Oxford Brookes Business School\Oxford Brookes Business School\Department of Business and Management

Dates

Year of publication: 2018
Date of RADAR deposit: 2018-09-21

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

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Related resources

This RADAR resource is the Accepted Manuscript of A multidimensional perspective of SME internationalization speed: The influence of entrepreneurial characteristics