Foreign markets entry mode decision for SMEs. Key factors and role of industrial districts.

The principal aim of this paper was to examine the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regard to the entry mode selection process. To successfully accomplish this, a resource-based view model was used to investigate the primary factors influencing a SMEs’ international entry mode. Data was obtained during direct interviews with owners/managers of SMEs in Italy. The results revealed that entry mode decisions were primarily influenced by firm specific factors, above all organizational culture. The study also illustrated that SMEs were not influenced by their belonging to an industrial district.Small and medium sized enterprises; Resource based view; Entry modes; Industrial Districts

Changes In Entry Mode Strategy For Italian Smes

The purpose of this paper is to examine the internationalization of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with a particular focus on the factors that influence changes in entry mode strategy that occur during the process, after the first foreign market entry and from the perspective of firms belonging to the mechanical sector. To achieve this, a quantitative research has been performed through a survey of 60 entrepreneurs and managers of Italian SMEs operating in the mechanical sector. The main findings confirm that, although existing business and social relationships have always had a great influence in the internationalization strategies, when it comes to analyze the SMEs perspective it is also necessary to take into account the influence of other factors, regardless of relationships, like the entrepreneur’s perception of the need to change mode strategy in a specific market

MVM’s Nonlinear Internationalization: A Case Study

This paper aims to contribute to the international business literature by discussing the nature of nonlinear internationalization based on a case study of an Italian firm MVM Meccanica Valle Metauro S.r.l. that had activities in Central and Eastern Europe and other countries and identifying causes of nonlinearities. It shows that nonlinear internationalization may be caused by different internal and external factors and actors; that it can occur once or several times, that foreign market exit may be temporary (followed by re-entry) and permanent and that de-internationalization does not always mean a failure for the firm

Drivers of SMEs’ exporting activity: a review and a research agenda

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic and updated assessment of studies on key exporting stimuli for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and to propose a research agenda on this topic. Design/methodology/approach The authors develop a review of empirical articles on SMEs’ exporting stimuli and outline future research directions based on key emerging drivers. Findings Research on SMEs’ exporting drivers focuses mainly on human resources’ competences, skills and subjective characteristics and on the role of relevant network actors (customers, intermediaries). Originality/value This paper provides an original contribution with regard to updating the framework on export drivers by Leonidou et al. (2007), highlighting an emerging research perspective based on internal/external network dimensions and proposing future research directions on internal individual and organisational actors and on new external network actors

Suppliers selction criteria for large retailers: The small and medium manufacturers perspective

Large retailers’ suppliers selection criteria are changing towards a greater attention to factors that can increase variety and differentiation of assortments. This paper aims to analyze the changes in which small and medium manufacturers are involved as retailers’ suppliers. A survey on a sample of SMEs in the food industry has been conducted in order to understanding the level of pressure that manufacturers perceive in retailers’ selection criteria. The analysis reveals as retailers’ attention is moving towards issues concerning the ability of the supplier to sustain a high level of efficiency along the whole supply chain.large retailing; suppliers selection; SMEs; channel relationships; buying; purchasing

Foreign markets entry mode decision for SMEs. Key factors and role of industrial districts.

The principal aim of this paper was to examine the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regard to the entry mode selection process. To successfully accomplish this, a resource-based view model was used to investigate the primary factors influencing a SMEs’ international entry mode. Data was obtained during direct interviews with owners/managers of SMEs in Italy. The results revealed that entry mode decisions were primarily influenced by firm specific factors, above all organizational culture. The study also illustrated that SMEs were not influenced by their belonging to an industrial district

Foreign Markets Entry Mode Decision for Italian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Using a resource-based view model, this paper examines the main factors influencing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) international entry mode selection. In addition, a possible relationship between firms belonging to industrial districts and the entry mode choice has been verified. Data for the analysis of this study were collected interviewing 221 owners/managers of SMEs in Italy. Results showed that entry mode decisions are mainly influenced by firm specific factors. Furthermore, the study does not support the hypothesis of a connection between the firm’s belonging to an industrial district and firms’ behavior in entry mode selection. This study has made it possible to detect by a resource-based perspective the main factors influencing the choice of entry modes

Foreign markets entry mode decision for SMEs. Key factors and role of industrial districts.

The principal aim of this paper was to examine the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regard to the entry mode selection process. To successfully accomplish this, a resource-based view model was used to investigate the primary factors influencing a SMEs’ international entry mode. Data was obtained during direct interviews with owners/managers of SMEs in Italy. The results revealed that entry mode decisions were primarily influenced by firm specific factors, above all organizational culture. The study also illustrated that SMEs were not influenced by their belonging to an industrial district

How Do Smaller Firms Select Foreign Markets?

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in relation to international market selection (IMS). To accomplish this, an investigation of the primary factors influencing SMEs’ choice when selecting international market in a systematic way was conducted. In addition we sought to understand whether there was a relationship between the systematic approach in IMS and the characteristics of SMEs. Results revealed that the majority of SMEs adopt a non-systematic IMS. However, in the case of SMEs following a systematic approach to IMS, the study pointed out that SMEs are influenced by firm-specific and host country factors, but not by entry barriers like geographic and cultural distance. In addition, results illustrated the existence of a relationship between systematic IMS and firm size

The Influence Of Decision-Maker Characteristics On The International Strategic Decision-Making Process: An SME Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to explore different aspects of SMEs’ strategic decision-making processes in international business. In particularly, we want to understand if exist a relationship between SMEs’ decision-maker characteristics (e.g. international experience, nationality, skill), and the process of strategic decision-making in international field. To achieve this, an examination of these aspects on a sample of 77 SMEs was conducted. Main results revealed that there is a strong relationship between decision-maker education and two important phases of international strategic decision-making process, that are International Market Selection and Entry Mode Selection