Diversity management and the value of human resource diversity: A focus on internationalizing SMEs

Angélique Breuillot, Rachel Bocquet and Véronique Favre-Bonté ()
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Angélique Breuillot: ESSCA Research Lab - ESSCA - ESSCA – École supérieure des sciences commerciales d'Angers = ESSCA Business School
Véronique Favre-Bonté: IREGE - Institut de Recherche en Gestion et en Economie - USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry] - Université Savoie Mont Blanc

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Abstract: While previous research has studied the effect human resource diversity could have on firm's internationalization, only few consider the management of this diversity, especially when small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are concerned. Building on the resource-based theory, this paper explores how diversity management influence SMEs' internationalization by taking into account the heterogeneity of this population. This multiple-case, qualitative study of 14 French SMEs, include four traditional internationalizers, eight early internationalizing firms and two born-again globals. Findings show that management of diversity varies across the different types of internationalizing SMEs, with the exception of EIFs for which the within-type heterogeneity is stronger than the between-types heterogeneity. Therefore, we discuss the specific features of the different types of internationalizing SMEs around the relationship between diversity management and internationalization. On a managerial level, this research reveals that diversity management is a factor to be considered strategically as it can fill the resource gap associated with rapid internationalization. It also shows that diversity management needs to be anchored in some managerial practices to strengthen a firm international expansion.

Keywords: SMEs’ internationalization; human resource diversity; SME (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-11-18
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Published in 3ème Journée Automnale du Management International - Paper Development Workshop,, iaelyon School of Management; Aix-Marseille University; ESSCA School of Management; LEST - Laboratoire d'économie et de sociologie du travail, Nov 2022, Lyon, France

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04056891

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