Enhancing SME Internationalization in a Transition Economy: The role of Internal Factors

Abstract

This study explores the internal factors that may enhance SME internationalization. It contributes to the field of international business by providing hypotheses about organizational and owner-manager’s characteristics which affect SME internationalization. Combining the Resource-Based View and the Upper Echelons Theory the study creates a more complete picture of the effect of organizational and owner-manager’s characteristics on the likelihood of SME internationalization. The proposed hypotheses are tested in a sample of Bulgarian SMEs offering empirical evidence about SME internationalization in a transition context and addressing the call for more research in this context. This study explores the internal factors that may enhance SME internationalization. It contributes to the field of international business by providing hypotheses about organizational and owner-manager’s characteristics which affect SME internationalization. Combining the Resource-Based View and the Upper Echelons Theory the study creates a more complete picture of the effect of organizational and owner-manager’s characteristics on the likelihood of SME internationalization. The proposed hypotheses are tested in a sample of Bulgarian SMEs offering empirical evidence about SME internationalization in a transition context and addressing the call for more research in this context.