The Development Trend of Entrepreneurship in the Globalising Economy: Evidence from Southern Italy
12 Pages Posted: 18 Nov 2012
Date Written: November 16, 2012
Abstract
As the world economy becomes more globalised, the internationalisation processes of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and family firms have received increasing attention from academics and practitioners. Numerous studies have examined modes, incentives, barriers to internationalisation and relationships among innovation, internationalisation and performance. Fewer but more recent studies have focused on the relationship between decision-makers’ skills and firms’ internationalisation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and to what extent key features and entrepreneurs’ perceptions affect the decision of several SMEs in the southern Italy to internationalise. The aim is to explore how the interactions among entrepreneurial skills and determinants such as environmental context, culture and regulation can affect the internationalisation process. The methodology adopted is based on an analysis of multiple-case studies. The study attempts to contribute to the ongoing debate on SMEs internationalisation. Practical implications of our research include suggestions for SMEs to better manage their internationalisation processes and for policy makers in underdeveloped areas to support suitable strategies for firms’ internationalisation.
JEL Classification: F23, M16, L26
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation