Conceptualizing the Relationships among the Strategic Orientations, Cultural Intelligence, International Diversification and Performance of Firms

In today’s globalized world, where firms are expanding internationally across different regions and countries, it is important to understand the drivers of this international expansion. To better understand this expansion, this article conceptualizes and explores the firm’s strategic orientations and cultural intelligence (CQ) as drivers and international diversification and firm performance as outcomes. The strategic orientations explored are international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO), international market orientation (IMO) and learning orientation (LO). Cultural intelligence (CQ), which is a part of the concept of intercultural competence is also conceptualized and explored. International diversification is conceptualized as the geographical expansion of the firm, while firm performance is conceptualized as both strategic and financial. The article concludes with a discussion on the contributions, the theoretical and practical implications of the developed propositions and directions for future research.     Keywords: cultural intelligence, strategic orientations, international diversification, firm performance, entrepreneurshi

Motivating Entrepreneurial Activity in the MENA Region: Do Human Capital and Corruption Matter?

Since the time of Schumpeter, entrepreneurship has been strongly associated with positive economic development. His primary contribution stems from his core theory that ‘entrepreneurship is the engine of national economic growth’. But not all entrepreneurship creates a positive impact on the economy. Thus, it is important to develop a deep understanding of the business climate that leads entrepreneurial activity to foster economic growth. This article delves into the role of human capital (HC) and corruption (CPI) in developing the type of entrepreneurial climate that leads to economic growth. Using data gathered from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the World Bank and various NGO data sites, this article conducts an empirical investigation of the impact of human capital (HC) and corruption (CPI) on the overall level of the total entrepreneurial activity (TEA) and follows this by further studying the impact of these antecedent factors on the disaggregated levels of total entrepreneurial activity; opportunity-motivated entrepreneurial activity (OME) and necessity-motivated entrepreneurial activity (NME)

Entrepreneurial Orientation, Management Commitment, And Human Capital: The Internationalization Of SMEs In India

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make sizeable contributions to the economic success of nations. Research concerning the internationalization of SMEs is available in the context of developed economies but less is can be found dealing specifically with the entrepreneurial behavior and international expansion of SMEs in emerging markets such as India. This research extends the literature addressing the relationships surrounding the internationalization of SMEs in India as related to entrepreneurial behavior, firm resources, and commitment to internationalization. Entrepreneurial orientation, a commitment to internationalization, and the ability to leverage human capital influence the international success of Indian SMEs, based on the analysis of data collected from 150 Indian SMEs

Understanding The Characteristics Of The Growth Of SMEs In B-To-B markets In Emerging Economies: An Organizational Ecology Approach

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to focus on the determinants that impact the growth of SMEs in B-to-B markets in emerging economies. The objective is to apply the classic model of organizational ecology to examine the characteristics of growth patterns in the B-to-B environment for SMEs in emerging markets, specifically India and China. Application of the model can guide SMEs owners/managers in their effort to successfully expand internationally in turbulent markets characterized by competitive and technological intensity. Design/methodology/approach – An overview of the basics of the organizational ecology model is presented, followed by the description of various economic drivers of B-to-B markets in India and China. The integration of the organizational ecology model and the strategic development of methods to deal with specific challenges of entering international markets are discussed. The paper concludes with managerial implications and suggestions for future research. Findings – Businesses operating in emerging markets face many of the same roadblocks concerning efficiencies, increasing competition, and the need for capital, that are experienced by businesses throughout the world, however, they also face challenges unique to the developmental nature of the country environment. Ecological models can be used to understand the dynamics between resource utilization and growth. Practical implications – The ecology-based view evaluates the utilization of resources with a focus on how changes in resource availability impact the international growth strategy of the B-to-B firm in India and China. These two economies represent a large business environment, generally underdeveloped with regards to taking advantage of potential resource availability. Originality/value – While the significant economic contribution of SMEs is well understood, their business practices in emerging economies have not been extensively studied, especially in the B-to-B arena. The goal here is to stimulate the development of new insights for managing the complex relationships between the B-to-B SMEs, organizational ecology, and the international environment in emerging markets. This study extends the literature concerning factors that impact business success in important emerging markets such as India and China

Understanding The Characteristics Of The Growth Of SMEs In B-To-B markets In Emerging Economies: An Organizational Ecology Approach

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to focus on the determinants that impact the growth of SMEs in B-to-B markets in emerging economies. The objective is to apply the classic model of organizational ecology to examine the characteristics of growth patterns in the B-to-B environment for SMEs in emerging markets, specifically India and China. Application of the model can guide SMEs owners/managers in their effort to successfully expand internationally in turbulent markets characterized by competitive and technological intensity. Design/methodology/approach – An overview of the basics of the organizational ecology model is presented, followed by the description of various economic drivers of B-to-B markets in India and China. The integration of the organizational ecology model and the strategic development of methods to deal with specific challenges of entering international markets are discussed. The paper concludes with managerial implications and suggestions for future research. Findings – Businesses operating in emerging markets face many of the same roadblocks concerning efficiencies, increasing competition, and the need for capital, that are experienced by businesses throughout the world, however, they also face challenges unique to the developmental nature of the country environment. Ecological models can be used to understand the dynamics between resource utilization and growth. Practical implications – The ecology-based view evaluates the utilization of resources with a focus on how changes in resource availability impact the international growth strategy of the B-to-B firm in India and China. These two economies represent a large business environment, generally underdeveloped with regards to taking advantage of potential resource availability. Originality/value – While the significant economic contribution of SMEs is well understood, their business practices in emerging economies have not been extensively studied, especially in the B-to-B arena. The goal here is to stimulate the development of new insights for managing the complex relationships between the B-to-B SMEs, organizational ecology, and the international environment in emerging markets. This study extends the literature concerning factors that impact business success in important emerging markets such as India and China

The Internationalization Of Indian SMEs In B-to-B Markets

Purpose – The study aims to examine the effect of market orientation on the international performance of Indian SMEs in the business-to-business market; assess the potential moderating effect of environmental uncertainty, along with market orientation, on SMEs’ performance; and discuss implications to guide SME owners/managers in their efforts to successfully expand internationally in turbulent markets. Design/methodology/approach – Surveys were sent to a random cross-sectional industry sample of SMEs located in India. The data consisted of 150 responses. Findings – Market orientation and international orientation are positively related to export performance and the relationship between the market orientation and international performance of Indian SMEs is moderated by market turbulence. Research limitations/implications – The data were collected at a single point in time, and therefore do not allow the determination of cause and effect or the impact of changes over time. Data were collected with a reliance on self-reports for all of the research variables. Practical implications – The positive relationship between market orientation, international orientation, and the degree of internationalization of the firm would suggest that the upper management of Indian SMEs should place a priority on promoting behaviors consistent with a positive international orientation, especially in turbulent markets. Originality/value – Studies focused on market orientation have been done primarily in the context of advanced economies. The significant economic contribution of SMEs is well understood, but their business practices in emerging economies have not been studied extensively. This study extends the literature concerning factors that impact business success in an important emerging market such as India

The Internationalization Of Indian SMEs In B-to-B Markets

Purpose – The study aims to examine the effect of market orientation on the international performance of Indian SMEs in the business-to-business market; assess the potential moderating effect of environmental uncertainty, along with market orientation, on SMEs’ performance; and discuss implications to guide SME owners/managers in their efforts to successfully expand internationally in turbulent markets. Design/methodology/approach – Surveys were sent to a random cross-sectional industry sample of SMEs located in India. The data consisted of 150 responses. Findings – Market orientation and international orientation are positively related to export performance and the relationship between the market orientation and international performance of Indian SMEs is moderated by market turbulence. Research limitations/implications – The data were collected at a single point in time, and therefore do not allow the determination of cause and effect or the impact of changes over time. Data were collected with a reliance on self-reports for all of the research variables. Practical implications – The positive relationship between market orientation, international orientation, and the degree of internationalization of the firm would suggest that the upper management of Indian SMEs should place a priority on promoting behaviors consistent with a positive international orientation, especially in turbulent markets. Originality/value – Studies focused on market orientation have been done primarily in the context of advanced economies. The significant economic contribution of SMEs is well understood, but their business practices in emerging economies have not been studied extensively. This study extends the literature concerning factors that impact business success in an important emerging market such as India

Franchise Partnership And International Expansion: A Conceptual Framework And Research Propositions

Although academic research has provided tremendous insights about the organizational form of franchising, considerable work remains with regard to understanding the critical factors that enable international franchise expansion and performance. The authors advance the argument that a franchise relationship is essentially an entrepreneurial partnership, and that this partnership influences the speed, scale, and scope of franchise expansion into international markets. In the proposed conceptual model, the authors detail the links among the franchise partnership, international expansion, and franchise system performance

Entrepreneurship, Muddling Through, And Indian Internet-Enabled SMEs

Advancements in internet technology are enabling Indian entrepreneurs to engage in entrepreneurial activities and innovations using new business models to achieve scale and scope as they begin to compete in a global marketplace. An understanding of how these Indian entrepreneurs are successfully growing and rapidly expanding their businesses is critical, not only from research perspective, but also from a practitioner view. This paper contributes to the understanding of entrepreneurship in SMEs in emerging markets such as India. This aim is accomplished through the examination of companies that adopt the incremental decision making methods proposed by Lindblom (1959)