Accompaniment structures and SMEs' internationalization process in emerging countries

Noémie Dominguez (noemie.dominguez@univ-lyon3.fr)
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Noémie Dominguez: MAGELLAN - Laboratoire de Recherche Magellan - UJML - Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 - Université de Lyon - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE) - Lyon

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Abstract: This exploratory study aims to understand the strategic role played by Internationalization Support Agencies (ISA) on Small and Medium-Sized enterprises expansion into emerging countries. Combining both institutional and internationalization process theories, we highlight the main influence of those agencies on the decision to enter and commit resources in turbulent markets. Using a qualitative multiple case-study approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with CEOs from ISAs and manufacturing SMEs belonging to the french Rhône-Alpes Region. Our results show, on the one hand, that the type of support required by SMEs appeared to differ according to their own attitude towards risks. Indeed, risk-averse firms tended to enter lately into emerging markets and therefore majorly asked for informational and logistical support to perform locally. On the opposite, risk-seeking firms tended to be strongly established locally and mainly needed financial support in order to raise their rhythm and scope of foreign expansion. On the other hand, we were able to notice that ISAs manage to palliate local institutional voids and act as alternatives to local resources. By reducing the level of subjective and business risks perceived, ISAs come to facilitate SMEs progression through the internationalization process.

Keywords: SMEs' internationalization process; emerging countries; internationalization support agencies; institutional theory; Internationalization process theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-12-12
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Published in EIBA, Dec 2013, Germany. 30 p

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00922514

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