International Entrepreneurship

Contrasting with the slow and gradual internationalization process described in classical models, research since the mid-nineties has focused on newly started firms (International New Ventures, Born Globals) which, from their inception proactively seek to derive significant competitive advantage from sourcing and selling to multiple countries. In this field the group has contributed with several studies that have advanced our understanding of the processes involved in such rapid and pervasive internationalization processes in small firms. Special focus has been on the role of the individual entrepreneur or the team of entrepreneurs as well as the impact of developments in information and communication technologies.

More recent research has supplemented with more predictive and normative contributions. It has been attempted to identify success drivers and strategies for attaining competitive advantage in multi-nation settings. Such strategies pertain to the identification of new market segments, the implementation of new business models using e- and M-commerce, and the development of routines for coordinating and managing resources and targeting customers. 

Several members of the group have been cited frequently for their research concerning questions like:

• What are the characteristics of firms that internationalize with high speed?
  
  
• What is the role of the entrepreneur?
  
  
• Why do some firms become global and others local?
  
  
• How can a wide geographical scope be managed effectively in small new firms?
  
  
• How should INVs/BGs select new markets? 
  
  
• How do international entrepreneurs make sense of their markets?
  
  
• What is the prevalence of INVs/BGs?
  
  
• How do technological advances create growth opportunities for INVs/BGs?
  
  
• How is economic performance related to strategic market decisions?
  
  
• Why and how are INVs/BGs engaged in international sourcing?
  
  
• How do INVs/BGs influence regional and national economic development?

See selected publications