Innovation roles in SME internationalization

Abstract

SMEs are the largest number of exporters in Australia and export is often their first internationalisation effort. However SMEs mainly do not export regularly and they often export less than once a year. In addition there is a low adoption of export with less than 5% of all SMEs involved in Australia. By understanding those involved in export initiation and using innovation theories there may be other ways that exporting can be made to be more sustainable for SME internationalisation. This study reviewed internationalisation theory in relation to export initiation. Specifically it looked at internationalisation approaches such as: stages, learning, born-global, network, and contingency and compared innovation theory to these approaches to demonstrate that all export initiation is innovative not just the stages approach. From here common innovation roles (champions, boundary spanners and intrapreneurs) were reviewed to see how they fit with all approaches in internationalisation. Each innovation role was reviewed and some evidence of their activities in SME internationalisation was found. It was demonstrated that all export initiation is innovative and not necessarily just the stages approach. In SME internationalisation innovation roles appear to exist. Finally a conceptual model and propositions were arrived at. Propositions were that each innovation role had a part to play in an innovation such as export initiation. This paper provides an understanding of innovation and how it relates to export initiation. A better understanding of innovation roles and how they relate to export initiation is provided. Further research is required to field test the propositions. Also research is required to see if the innovation roles are independent, interdependent or have significant overlaps? Another possible area of research could look at the existence of other roles in innovation or synthesised roles. Finally, measure the concept that all internationalisation is an innovation and not only the territory of the stages approach.