Small Firm Internationalization and Business Strategy
通过30家英国小企业深度访谈，研究了知识密集型与传统制造两类小企业的商业战略如何影响其国际化模式、进程和速度，发现产品创新和管理变革是关键驱动因素。
The objective of this study was to explore the linkages between the overall business strategies of small firms and their patterns, processes and pace of internationalization. A qualitative approach was adopted, involving 30 indepth interviews with key decision makers of internationalizing small firms based in 3 UK regions (15 ‘knowledge-intensive’ and 15 ‘traditional’ firms). The findings suggest that business policies, including those linked to ownership and/or management changes, had an important influence upon the international orientation of many firms. There were close relationships between product policies and market focus, with product or process innovation often providing an important stimulus to international expansion. However, differences existed in the patterns, processes and pace of internationalization between small ‘knowledge-intensive’ and ‘traditional’ manufacturing firms. The implications of these results on firm strategy, public policy and theory development are discussed and a series of research questions are postulated for future investigation.