TY - JOUR
T1 - A multidimensional perspective of SME internationalization speed
T2 - The influence of entrepreneurial characteristics
AU - Hsieh, Linda
AU - Child, John
AU - Narooz, Rose
AU - Elbanna, Said
AU - Karmowska, Joanna
AU - Marinova, Svetla
AU - Puthusserry, Pushyarag
AU - Tsai, Terence
AU - Zhang, Yunlu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/4
Y1 - 2019/4
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Earliness
KW - Entrepreneurship
KW - Internationalization
KW - SMEs
KW - Speed of deepening
KW - Speed of geographic diversification
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055744464&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.09.004
DO - 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.09.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85055744464
SN - 0969-5931
VL - 28
SP - 268
EP - 283
JO - International Business Review
JF - International Business Review
IS - 2
ER -