An Empirical Examination of the Factors Affecting the Internationalization of Professional Service Smes: The Case of India

This dissertation examines the factors contributing to the internationalization and performance of professional service small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Specifically, this research documents the relationships among a professional service SME\u27s entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, the degree of internationalization, service innovation, and financial performance. Entrepreneurship literature has recently been extended to the international environment, confirming a positive influence on firm internationalization. Research which examines human capital is limited, yet has potential to contribute to service research. Separately, innovation has been examined from several research disciplines, yet has not been integrated in a model with an entrepreneurial orientation, firm internationalization, and human capital. This dissertation research integrates literature from multiple disciplines to create and test an integrative framework of professional service SME internationalization and performance. The largest contribution of this research is to the fields of entrepreneurship and international business, resulting from confirmation of the positive effect of an entrepreneurial orientation on SME internationalization. However, it is also the researcher\u27s intent to recognize the unique contribution of human capital to the profitable internationalization and performance of knowledge-intensive professional services firms. A multidisciplinary integrative service performance framework that extends international business, entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and strategy literature is supported by a sample of international professional service SMEs in India. Research conclusions and managerial implications are also provide

An Empirical Examination of the Factors Affecting the Internationalization of Professional Service Smes: The Case of India

This dissertation examines the factors contributing to the internationalization and performance of professional service small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Specifically, this research documents the relationships among a professional service SME\u27s entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, the degree of internationalization, service innovation, and financial performance. Entrepreneurship literature has recently been extended to the international environment, confirming a positive influence on firm internationalization. Research which examines human capital is limited, yet has potential to contribute to service research. Separately, innovation has been examined from several research disciplines, yet has not been integrated in a model with an entrepreneurial orientation, firm internationalization, and human capital. This dissertation research integrates literature from multiple disciplines to create and test an integrative framework of professional service SME internationalization and performance. The largest contribution of this research is to the fields of entrepreneurship and international business, resulting from confirmation of the positive effect of an entrepreneurial orientation on SME internationalization. However, it is also the researcher\u27s intent to recognize the unique contribution of human capital to the profitable internationalization and performance of knowledge-intensive professional services firms. A multidisciplinary integrative service performance framework that extends international business, entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and strategy literature is supported by a sample of international professional service SMEs in India. Research conclusions and managerial implications are also provide

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

Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Internet Firms - A Strategic Framework and Implications for Global Marketers

Purpose – At the core of an international marketing strategy is the internet firm’s goal of building and sustaining a competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative framework to explain the role that customer behavior and customer relationship management (CRM) play in developing a profitable, sustainable competitive advantage for internet companies. Design/methodology/approach – The integrative framework utilizes existing theoretical concepts from the areas of strategy and internet marketing and develops a framework to provide firms with insights into how they can gain the competitive advantage. Findings – This paper links global customer behavior to the firms’ business value chain and provides guidelines for strategic implications. In this conceptual paper, it is discussed that understanding consumer decision-making behavior on the web and managing these relationships are critically important to achieve a superior performance. Research limitations/implications – This is not empirical research. A theoretical model is presented for future testing by researchers using statistical techniques such as structural equation modeling. Practical implications – The framework provides managerial insights into building and sustaining a competitive advantage using a consumer-centric approach, coupled with CRM technology on a global scale. Managerial value is derived by providing an understanding of the link between a sustainable competitive advantage, customer-focused strategies, consumers’ needs and wants, the firm’s performance, and shareholder value. Originality/value – It is important for global marketers to understand how consumer decision-making on the web affects strategic and financial performance. This paper extends the current literature by integrating consumer decision behavior on the web, CRM, and the firms’ performance. This framework explains the creation of a sustainable competitive advantage using customer-focused strategies to develop customer loyalty for superior firm performance

Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Internet Firms - A Strategic Framework and Implications for Global Marketers

Purpose – At the core of an international marketing strategy is the internet firm’s goal of building and sustaining a competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative framework to explain the role that customer behavior and customer relationship management (CRM) play in developing a profitable, sustainable competitive advantage for internet companies. Design/methodology/approach – The integrative framework utilizes existing theoretical concepts from the areas of strategy and internet marketing and develops a framework to provide firms with insights into how they can gain the competitive advantage. Findings – This paper links global customer behavior to the firms’ business value chain and provides guidelines for strategic implications. In this conceptual paper, it is discussed that understanding consumer decision-making behavior on the web and managing these relationships are critically important to achieve a superior performance. Research limitations/implications – This is not empirical research. A theoretical model is presented for future testing by researchers using statistical techniques such as structural equation modeling. Practical implications – The framework provides managerial insights into building and sustaining a competitive advantage using a consumer-centric approach, coupled with CRM technology on a global scale. Managerial value is derived by providing an understanding of the link between a sustainable competitive advantage, customer-focused strategies, consumers’ needs and wants, the firm’s performance, and shareholder value. Originality/value – It is important for global marketers to understand how consumer decision-making on the web affects strategic and financial performance. This paper extends the current literature by integrating consumer decision behavior on the web, CRM, and the firms’ performance. This framework explains the creation of a sustainable competitive advantage using customer-focused strategies to develop customer loyalty for superior firm performance

An Empirical Examination of The Factors Affecting The Internationalization of Professional Service SMEs: The Case of India

This dissertation examines the factors contributing to the internationalization and performance of professional service small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Specifically, this research documents the relationships among a professional service SME\u27s entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, the degree of internationalization, service innovation, and financial performance. Entrepreneurship literature has recently been extended to the international environment, confirming a positive influence on firm internationalization. Research which examines human capital is limited, yet has potential to contribute to service research. Separately, innovation has been examined from several research disciplines, yet has not been integrated in a model with an entrepreneurial orientation, firm internationalization, and human capital. This dissertation research integrates literature from multiple disciplines to create and test an integrative framework of professional service SME internationalization and performance. The largest contribution of this research is to the fields of entrepreneurship and international business, resulting from confirmation of the positive effect of an entrepreneurial orientation on SME internationalization. However, it is also the researcher\u27s intent to recognize the unique contribution of human capital to the profitable internationalization and performance of knowledge-intensive professional services firms. A multidisciplinary integrative service performance framework that extends international business, entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and strategy literature is supported by a sample of international professional service SMEs in India. Research conclusions and managerial implications are also provide

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

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