Journal of World Business – Volume 52, Issue 5, 653-663
International and market-specific social capital effects on international opportunity exploitation in the internationalization process
Angelika Lindstrand, Sara Melén Hånell
We develop theory stating that international and market-specific social capital are two distinct forms of social capital which both increase international opportunity exploitation. We also argue that market-specific social capital mediates international social capital. Our theoretical developments are based on internationalization process theory and social network theory. Using data on 239 internationalizing SMEs, our results confirm that the effect of international social capital on opportunity exploitation is only mediated via market-specific social capital. Hence, we identify an internationalization process for social capital development in international business opportunity exploitation. Our contribution adds in several ways to existing international business research.
Journal of World Business – Volume 52, Issue 5, 664-679
SME international business models: The role of context and experience
John Child, Linda Hsieh, Said Elbanna, Joanna Karmowska, Svetla Marinova, Pushyarag Puthusserry, Terence Tsai, Rose Narooz, Yunlu Zhang
This paper addresses two questions through a study of 180 SMEs located in contrasting industry and home country contexts. First, which business models for international markets prevail among SMEs and do they configure into different types? Second, which factors predict the international business models that SMEs follow? Three distinct international business models (traditional market-adaptive, technology-exploiter, and ambidextrous explorer) are found among the SMEs studied. The likelihood of SMEs adopting one business model rather than another is to a high degree predictable with reference to a small set of factors: industry, level of home economy development, and decision-maker international experience.