ІНТЕРНАЦІОНАЛІЗАЦІЯ МАЛИХ ВЕНЧУРНИХ КОМПАНІЙ КРАЇН ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЇ ТА СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ: ОГЛЯД ЕМПІРИЧНИХ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ

Abstract

The article highlights empirical studies of the internationalization of small venture enterprises in Central and Eastern European countries through the analysis of four prominent articles that reveal the motives and incentives, characteristics of the entrepreneur, the enterprise, the role of networks and the environment in the process of internationalization. It touches upon the most frequently used methods of confirmatory studies – case method and semi-structured interviews, looking at how these methods were applied in the leading studies of small venture internationalisation in the region conducted by Sekliuckiene, Nowiński and Rialp, Danik and Kowalik and Ferencikova and Hluskova. The study points to common features in the showcased studies – unfavourable market conditions of transition economies (vulnerable institutions, underdeveloped financial market), negative effects of the country of origin (biased attitude of domestic consumers and partners to local production), but a great role of innovation, market fit for international development and taking advantage of low cost of production and testing. It displays the way previous studies explored the role of networks – both personal and professional – in successful expansion abroad. At the same time, it showcases contrasting evidence for the role of previous international experience – pointing out differences between technological service companies and manufacturing. This study indicates the presence of differences in the approach to the internationalization of enterprises of Central and Eastern European countries and countries with developed economies, which are usually in the spotlight of research. It indicates the case method as promising for the study of international entrepreneurship in Ukraine. The author believes that there is a strong demand for further research of international entrepreneurship – not only for conducting confirmatory studies, but also theory development and advanced data collection.