How Do Smaller Firms Select Foreign Markets?

Musso, Fabio and Francioni, Barbara (2012): How Do Smaller Firms Select Foreign Markets? Published in: International Journal of Marketing Studies , Vol. 4, No. 6 (2012): pp. 44-53.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in relation to international market selection (IMS). To accomplish this, an investigation of the primary factors influencing SMEs’ choice when selecting international market in a systematic way was conducted. In addition we sought to understand whether there was a relationship between the systematic approach in IMS and the characteristics of SMEs. Results revealed that the majority of SMEs adopt a non-systematic IMS. However, in the case of SMEs following a systematic approach to IMS, the study pointed out that SMEs are influenced by firm-specific and host country factors, but not by entry barriers like geographic and cultural distance. In addition, results illustrated the existence of a relationship between systematic IMS and firm size.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: International market selection, Small and medium-sized enterprises, International strategy, Systematic and non-systematic approaches
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D9 - Intertemporal Choice > D92 - Intertemporal Firm Choice, Investment, Capacity, and Financing; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M16 - International Business Administration; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M2 - Business Economics > M21 - Business Economics; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M3 - Marketing and Advertising > M31 - Marketing

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