International Entrepreneurship Research Articles

International Entrepreneurial Aspiration and Internationalisation Speed in an Emerging Economy

Guided by the theory of planned behaviour and resource dependency logic, we explored how international EO arising from international entrepreneurial aspiration triggers the speed of the internationalisation of SMEs in an emerging economy. Based on a moderated mediation model this study posits that international political network ties moderate the positive linkage between international EO and internationalisation speed and strengthen the positive indirect effect that exists between international entrepreneurial aspiration and internationalisation speed. Results of our study based on 299 SMEs supported our hypotheses. Implications of our results for SME owners/managers in an emerging economy context, as well as the limitations and directions for future research, are discussed.

Mathematical analysis of internal entrepreneurship processes in corporations

Mathematical analysis of internal entrepreneurship processes in corporations

International entrepreneurship looking back to go forward. Follow-up interview with Nicole Coviello by Celina Smith, Emlyon Business School

International entrepreneurship looking back to go forward. Follow-up interview with Nicole Coviello by Celina Smith, Emlyon Business School

A systematic literature review on SME internationalization: a personality lens

The importance of the individual decision-maker within the internationalization process of SMEs has extensively been acknowledged in the International Entrepreneurship field. Yet, despite this, the current discourse is mainly limited to socio-demographics, and social and human capital, and does not seem to advance towards the influence and role of, e.g., deeper-level personality aspects on the SME’s internationalization process. Findings are scattered across different fields of research and disciplines, making it difficult to build upon existing knowledge. To address this, we execute a Systematic Literature Review focusing on internationalization, SMEs, and personality, with specific attention for deeper-level personality aspects. Our findings reveal a rather young body of literature which uses a behavioral perspective, and can be subdivided into three overarching research themes: Internationalization Behaviors, Internationalization Initiation, and Internationalization Performance. Our thematic analysis and cross-thematic discussion provide a fertile ground for further studies on the entrepreneur’s deeper-level personality aspects in relation to SME internationalization. In the future research section, we recommend the exploration of alternative behavioral theories, and multi-level and holistic approaches to further explore this promising sub-domain.

The effect of international opportunity recognition processes on problem-solving competence: how does past negative entrepreneurial experience matter?

Research background: Little research addresses how identifying an opportunity in the international market, whether through active search or serendipitous discovery, may have implications for the subsequent gestation behaviors. An emerging body of research suggests addressing this deficiency by focusing on the cognitive and experience-based factors that international entrepreneurs use to develop an opportunity in the foreign market once identified. Purpose of the article: The aim of this study is to explore the role of active and serendipitous international opportunity recognition (IOR) in entrepreneurs? problem-solving skills (problem-solving speed and creativity), as well as the moderating effect of past negative entrepreneurial experience (PNE) on such relationships. Methods: This study used the survey data collection method through an online self-administered questionnaire. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to analyze the results over a sample of Spanish international entrepreneurs. Findings & value added: The results show that entrepreneurs that have identified an international opportunity (IO) actively are better equipped to solve problems speedily than those that have discovered an IO serendipitously. In contrast, entrepreneurs who identified an IO serendipitously are better equipped to solve problems creatively. Furthermore, the impact of active search on problem-solving speed is greater for entrepreneurs without PNE, and the impact of active search on problem-solving creativity is greater for entrepreneurs with PNE. Also, it is found that PNE does not moderate serendipitous IOR relationship with problem-solving competence. These findings are relevant as they indicate that the IOR processes have implications for the subsequent gestation behaviors. Thus, the value added of this study is the combination of cognitive and experience-based factors of the international entrepreneur to enrich the link between IOR processes and IO development. These are two intertwined and interdependent processes, which, however, have been scarcely studied as a whole. The results of this research help international entrepreneurs to understand how and why the way they recognized an IO and having or not PNE influence their problem-solving skills during the IO development phase.

Two Decades of Research on Corporate Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, and Corporate Venturing

Purpose Scholars have been interested in intrapreneurship in recent years, but there is no unified definition of intrapreneurship, and scholars have not proposed a unified standard for intrapreneurship terms. Given these problems, the objective of this study was to determine the current state of intrapreneurship based on a literature analysis and the problems that exist in the research, as well as to provide new directions for future research. Design/Methodology/Approach First, we examined 291 studies by year of publication, author, research field, journal, and journal type through the Web of Science (WOS) database. We also look into the issues of specialization and sustainability in intrapreneurship research by conducting research into authors and research areas. Second, we analyzed publishing periodicals to look into how it developed in the field of knowledge. Third, we identified the types of databases used in intrapreneurship research by taking into account the data sources utilized in all empirical studies in our survey. Finally, from the concept of intrapreneurship, we summarize its concept based on three different terms: corporate entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and corporate venturing, and explore the differences. From a comprehensive perspective, we focused on examining the use of intrapreneurship terms through a review of the literature. Findings In this paper, we examine the overall research trend of intrapreneurship and discover that the frequency of term use has changed over time. why it has changed? And what is the cause of this change? These are the areas that we believe we will be able to research in the future. Furthermore, we discovered that different terms have different definitions, and while there are similarities and differences between terms, there is no clear definition of their differences in current research and internal entrepreneurship. These findings contribute to the development of a research agenda for the future. Research Implications The background of term use and the unclear distinction between terms presented in this study provide some hints for future research. Practically, by organizing the definitions of intrapreneurship terms in this study, scholars will have a clear sense of boundaries in their use of intrapreneurship terms, which will increase their attention to the background of intrapreneurship terms. Furthermore, by compiling the literature in this paper, we can identify the problems in current research and serve as a guide for scholars’ future research directions.

Economic development levels and ease of doing business: is there a relationship?

PurposeEntrepreneurship is a phenomenon strongly associated with economic growth, development and employability, leading countries to compete and often produce reforms to ensure good levels of entrepreneurship. In this sequence, this study aims to know which types of economies present favourable institutional environments for entrepreneurs, exploring the link between the ease of doing business and the three levels of economic development (innovation-driven, efficiency-driven and factor-driven) of 137 economies.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology through an analysis of variances was adopted, gathering data from the ten pillars proposed by the World Bank in the Doing Business 2019 – training for reforms report, and economic development levels, provided by Global Competitiveness Report (2017–2018).FindingsIn the light of institutional theory, the results showed that innovation-driven economies are more competitive, presenting more robust institutional environments for entrepreneurs than factor-driven and efficiency-driven. There is only one exception in the Getting Credit pillar.Originality/valueThis study clarifies some assumptions in the previous literature that developed economies have better business environments, being the first one to establish this relationship directly. Some practical implications, especially for international entrepreneurs in the decision-making phase on which type of economies to carry out their investments and policymakers and researchers, were provided in this study.

Predictors of International Entrepreneurial Intention Among Young Adults: Social Cognitive Theory.

This study investigated the psychological mechanism by which parents’ socioeconomic status, including income and social class, influences the international entrepreneurship intentions of young adults. Two datasets, self-reported (survey) and objective, were collected from 372 undergraduate students across 19 universities in China. Parents’ income and social class had a positive effect on international entrepreneurship intentions. Sense of power and motivational cultural intelligence (CQ) played mediating roles in this relationship, and work experience moderated this relationship. The mediation tests revealed that sense of power and motivational CQ comprise a serial mediation process, in that order. The effect of motivational CQ on international entrepreneurship intentions was strengthened by young adults’ work experience. We identified the underlying mechanism and moderator of the relationship between socioeconomic factors and international entrepreneurship intentions.

Effect of Social Power, Cultural Intelligence, and Socioeconomic Status on Students' International Entrepreneurial Intention.

BackgroundUndeniably, international entrepreneurship is important to a nation’s development. The government has engaged in various activities to support international entrepreneurship in China. However, the results were less embracing, particularly among students. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence students’ intentions toward international entrepreneurship is vital in the effort to develop entrepreneurship. Therefore, this study examined whether social power and international entrepreneurship intention are related based on social capital theory, as well as the possible influence of cultural intelligence and socioeconomic status on this relationship.MethodsA quantitative study was conducted to test the hypotheses. Data were collected through paper-based questionnaires from 372 undergraduate students at 19 universities in China. The partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses using the SmartPLS software.ResultsSocial power has a positive effect on international entrepreneurship intentions, and motivational cultural intelligence plays a mediating role in this relationship. In addition, behavioral cultural intelligence played a mediating role in this relationship but not in the hypothesized direction. The effect of social power on international entrepreneurship intentions via motivational cultural intelligence is strengthened by socioeconomic status. However, socioeconomic status failed to moderate the mediating effects of social power on international entrepreneurship intentions, as transmitted through behavioral cultural intelligence.ConclusionThis study contributes to the scarce empirical literature on students’ international entrepreneurship intention in China by testing the relationship between social power and international entrepreneurship intention via cultural intelligence. In addition, these findings demonstrate that future research should focus on improving students’ perceptions of international entrepreneurship as an important career choice.

Urban water governance as policy boosterism: Seoul’s legitimation at the local and global scale

While cities gain international momentum, they increasingly connect to innovate and learn from each other. The attraction of attention and resources lies beneath the economic reasons that drive most of the international entrepreneurship of city governments. In parallel to common market-based strategies, cities also harness their key internal policies as value-added elements to share among peers in order to enhance their transnational reputation. Contrary to business-friendly initiatives that are embedded in an economic rationality, this second type of transnational entrepreneurship revolves around the perceived reputation of local policy-making actors in their own right. By establishing an interdisciplinary dialogue between urban geography and international studies, this article proposes the international promotion of Seoul’s water management policy as an empirical case of policy boosterism, unearthing a social practice of legitimation enacted by the city government of Seoul that is simultaneously local and global.

Perspective on early internationalizing firms: Three decades of international entrepreneurship developments

Perspective on early internationalizing firms: Three decades of international entrepreneurship developments

The analysis of knowledge visualization of the status of international entrepreneurship research—Based on view of the method of co-word analysis

<p>Based on the perspective of keyword co word network, firstly, the total number and scale of keyword relationships are measured. Secondly, the centrality of keyword co word network is analyzed, including point degree centrality, point middle centrality, point proximity centrality and point feature vector centrality. Thirdly, the k-kernel analysis of keyword co word network is carried out. Finally, some meaningful research conclusions at the forefront of international eco city research from 1961 to 2011 are drawn.</p>

Study of Relationships between Companies’ Digitalisation, Resources and Capabilities on Competitive Advantage of Small and Medium Enterprises in Indonesia

The importance of this study is to examine the factors that could influence Indonesian SMEs in term of their competitive advantages in the international market. Some research on international entrepreneurship shows resources, capabilities as the drivers of SME internationalisation that relate to competitive advantage. However, the evidence where resources, capabilities, and digitalisation will lead SMEs competitive advantages in international market requires more discussion, particularly in developing countries such as Indonesia. This paper examined resources, capabilities, and digitalisation direct and indirect relationships with competitive advantages in international markets. The directory of DGNED is being utilised in this study on zooming at Indonesian exporting SME. This study is a quantitative study methods where convenient sampling was used in getting the sample through online survey questionnaire. There were 50 samples responsed to this study. The study utilised SmartPLS software to analyse the data. The findings showed that digitalisation and capabilities significantly and positively influence competitive advantages in international markets. Management international resources contribute to price advantage, international capabilities contribute to product and service advantages, while digitalisation has no direct effect to any of these competitive advantages. Nevertheless, these two constructs are important for SME internationalisation owing to their indirect effects on product and service advantages. This research contributes to Indonesian SMEs that possess the desire to internationalise and enhance their presences in the international market. With understanding on the basis of evidence on capabilities, resources, and digitalisation, SMEs may make haste on its internationalisation in an less difficult method on risks, capital and time. Therefore, SMEs should get and improve the suitable resources, capabilities to gain competitive advantages by creating their international capabilities in the international markets. Future research should replicate this study with bigger sample size, longitudinal study and across continents for better understanding on international competitions.

Manager gender, entrepreneurial orientation and SMEs export and import propensities: evidence for Spanish businesses

This paper investigates the role of manager gender in SMEs’ decisions to get involved in exporting and importing activities, using a sample of 1,405 Spanish SMEs. We borrow insights from international entrepreneurship theories and feminist theories to set testable hypotheses regarding how managerial gender and entrepreneurial orientation (proactiveness, risk-taking and innovativeness) may influence SMEs export and import propensities. Using a bivariate probit model and controlling for other managerial and business characteristics, results reveal that there are not significant disparities in exporting propensities between men- and women-run businesses. However, female-led SMEs show a lower importing propensity, in comparison to male-led counterparts. In addition, the three entrepreneurial orientation dimensions (proactiveness, risk-taking and innovativeness) are important drivers for participating in overseas markets, and do not depend upon the manager gender. This work provides new empirical evidence on the comparison between men- and women-run SMEs as regards export/import behavior and thus, it contributes to improve our knowledge on the role of gender in SMEs internationalization. The role of manager’s gender in SMEs import propensity has not been investigated so far, and this is the main novelty of our research.

International entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: interfirm coordination and local economy dynamics in the informal economy

PurposeThe International Labor Organization (2020) estimates that eight out of ten enterprises (i.e. own-account workers and small economic units) are informal worldwide. However, less is known about the internationalization of informal enterprises. Here, it is argued that economic blocs, such as sub-Saharan Africa, with a greater proportion of informal enterprises, may provide broader societal legitimacy for them to operate internationally. Thus, informal firms would need to collaborate with other firms to overcome their resource constraints. Geographic colocation is one way to facilitate positive interfirm interactions that promote networking and subsequently cooperation. The purpose of this paper is, thus, to addresses two questions. Firstly, how and to what extent does interfirm marketing cooperation in geographic colocation influence the internationalization of micro and small informal manufacturing enterprises? Secondly, how do the perceived benefits of local external economies moderate this relationship?Design/methodology/approachThe study draws evidence from 125 randomly selected informal enterprises located in two major clusters in Ghana, using a mixed-method approach.FindingsThe partial least square - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis applied revealed two central points. Firstly, sharing marketing costs allows informal firms to upgrade their phases of export development directly. Secondly, the linkage of increasing sales activities and local external economies encourages the progress of the phases of export development and the scope of internationalization. Results confirm that the cluster benefits of interfirm cooperation and local external economies on the informal firm internationalization process complement each other in addition to their linear relationship.Originality/valueThe study contributes to understanding the nexus of the informal sector, geographic colocation and the entrepreneurial internationalization literature. The results should motivate researchers and policymakers to approach informal firm internationalization through collaborative business activities.

Psychic Distance and Its Effect on the Degree of Internationalization of Firms in Korea

Purpose International entrepreneurship involves the identification and exploration of the right market. As such, entrepreneurs are faced with challenges which determine their success in a foreign market. In this regard, this study tries to examine firms’ internationalization process from the view of psychic distance through opportunity exploration. Also, this study investigates the influence of government support between exploring overseas opportunities and internationalization. Design/Methodology/Approach To test our model, we used a structural equation model with 230 survey samples collected from venture companies in South Korea. The research model consists of seven constructs with interrelated causal paths which requires the performance of an explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). This study also uses a multiple group analysis to investigate the influence of government support on the relationship between opportunity exploration and a firm’s degree of internationalization. Findings This study identifies that business distance, language distance and institutional distance have a negative influence on Korean entrepreneurs who intend to explore opportunities in the foreign market. Moreover, the multi-group results show that between opportunity exploration and firm’s degree of internationalization, the level of government support has an important mediating effect. Research Implications The significance of this study lies in improving the body of knowledge about international entrepreneurship. This research contributes to international business studies by revealing how government support helps override the difficulties posed by psychic distance. For example, government support (e.g., tax incentives, direct subsidies and government policies) can assist entrepreneurs in coping with the barriers caused by business distance, language distance and institutional distance. Overall, the importance of the government support program towards entrepreneurship cannot be overemphasized since it shapes the entrepreneurial decision to enter foreign markets.

Impact of digital marketing on SMEs performance in Saudi Arabia: Implications on building NEOM

Digital marketing has replaced traditional marketing approaches due to an increase in the access to internet and communication technologies across the globe. In addition, it has created an opportunity for SMEs with limited market and funding to promote their brand across different regions, supporting balanced regional development. In this context, Saudi Arabia has been promoting the growth of SMEs through various initiatives as a part of its vision 2030 programme. Accordingly, NEOM city, a multi-billion project was launched to support businesses, innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers by proposing the city as a hub for international entrepreneurs. However, it is unclear how the local SMEs and their approaches toward digital marketing would be impacted, and how the city can support them. This paper analyses and evaluates the impact of digital marketing on SMEs performance in Saudi Arabia, and its implications for developing NEOM city. An online survey questionnaire instrument was used for collecting data from 358 entrepreneurs and business owners categorised under SMEs. Low-cost marketing mix with techniques such as email marketing, social media marketing are preferred by SMEs. Cultural, economic, and technological are the major factors identified influencing the adoption of digital marketing by SMEs. Digital marketing reflected more positive impact on strategic performance (customers and employees’ satisfaction) than financial performance (profitability and sustainability) of Saudi Arabian SMEs. Saudi Arabian SMEs reflect their readiness and preparedness to reap the benefits from the Saudization programme, with a few minor issues related to socio-cultural, technological, and labour challenges.

The role of affect in international opportunity recognition and the formation of international opportunity beliefs

Despite the significance of individual factors in how entrepreneurs recognize international opportunities either by active search or passive discovery, prior research has typically focused on cognitive aspects overlooking affect as a critical driver of this process. Drawing upon broaden-and-build and affect-as-information theories, we explore how courage, hope, fear of failure, and anticipated regret, as stable affective dispositions, can influence entrepreneurs’ active and passive international opportunity recognition (IOR). Also, based on the mental model theory, we examine whether both processes can lead entrepreneurs to differently form opportunity desirability and feasibility beliefs to judge the opportunities recognized in the foreign market. Based on data from a sample of 172 international entrepreneurs, we find that hope and anticipated regret are positively related to active IOR. Hope and courage are positively related to passive IOR, and fear of failure and anticipated regret are negatively related to passive IOR. Moreover, active IOR better informs opportunity desirability and feasibility beliefs than passive IOR, which indeed only predicts feasibility. These findings are original and novel and thus add value to the flourishing literature on the individual-level factors that influence IOR processes and the emerging literature on how international opportunity desirability and feasibility beliefs are formed to evaluate IOs.

Pre-start-up internationalization mindsets trigger action

ABSTRACT We propose that internationalization mindsets – the configuration of ability and willingness to internationalize – of entrepreneurs in the pre-start-up phase predict later internationalization behavior. Moreover, we suggest that internationalization mindsets may exist before a company is established and that different configurations of mindsets lead to different internationalization behaviors. Using a multiple correspondence analysis with data from 213 early stage entrepreneurs, this study extends our understanding of individual-level antecedents of internationalization by developing a taxonomy of entrepreneurial internationalization mindsets. Our results show that pre-start-up internationalization mindsets are predictive of internationalization behavior two years later. These findings provide a starting point for theorizing on pre-venture antecedents of internationalization behavior, for exploring different configurations of individual-level antecedents, and for comparing how these may evolve into internationalization behavior.

A systematic international entrepreneurship review and future research agenda

PurposeInternational entrepreneurship (IE) has received a considerable amount of attention in the recent decades as a result of globalization enabling access to new international markets and business opportunities. Despite the growing increase in academic publications, IE still faces certain inconsistencies, with doubts remaining as regards its boundaries and the thematic groups making up the field. The purpose of this article is to systematically analyse the IE, mapping the intellectual territory and the evolution of the field.Design/methodology/approachIndexed to Web of Science( WoS) database until 2021, from 52 journals, 130 articles were selected, applying content analyses techniques to identify the main research lines.FindingsThe results reveal that IE presents four conceptual themes/clusters: (1) international business networks and opportunities; (2) institutional environments; (3) the characteristics and motivations of entrepreneurs; and (4) internationalisation drivers and processes. Extant analysis show that IE has progressed immensely, concentrating a good diversity of subtopics and research trends. An integrative framework bringing together 27 years of publications and 67 future research lines, detailed by cluster, were also presented in this study to improve understanding and guide future studies.Originality/valueThis review makes a broad contribution to the IE literature, assisting in consolidating the academic field, expanding and complementing the results of previous theoretical–conceptual studies. We reflect and individually discuss the state of the art of the four streams that characterize IE to identify key themes, points of convergence and advance new subfields.