International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=74&year=2012&vol=15&issue=2 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business 1476-1297 1741-8054 © 2012 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijesb_scoverijesb.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=74&year=2012&vol=15&issue=2 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45201 While much of the research on small firm internationalisation has concentrated on export strategies, little attention has been paid to understanding the process and conditions under which the entrepreneur identifies and exploits an opportunity. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the entrepreneur's prior life story and the development and behaviour of his or her born global firm. Six years of intense qualitative field research, including 108 interviews from three entrepreneurial 'born global' firms are compared and contrasted within our theoretical framework. In this study empirical evidence suggests that a person's childhood and prior life story directly influences the behaviour of the entrepreneur. We propose that different types of entrepreneurs are important factors to understand firms' different internationalisation patterns. Depending on the backgrounds of the entrepreneurs, they developed preferences, skills, and especially desires that will affect the total behaviour of their future organisations. The influence of the entrepreneur's background on the behaviour and development of born globals' internationalisation processes
Navid Ghannad; Svante Andersson
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 136 - 153
While much of the research on small firm internationalisation has concentrated on export strategies, little attention has been paid to understanding the process and conditions under which the entrepreneur identifies and exploits an opportunity. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the entrepreneur's prior life story and the development and behaviour of his or her born global firm. Six years of intense qualitative field research, including 108 interviews from three entrepreneurial 'born global' firms are compared and contrasted within our theoretical framework. In this study empirical evidence suggests that a person's childhood and prior life story directly influences the behaviour of the entrepreneur. We propose that different types of entrepreneurs are important factors to understand firms' different internationalisation patterns. Depending on the backgrounds of the entrepreneurs, they developed preferences, skills, and especially desires that will affect the total behaviour of their future organisations.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045201 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 136 - 153 Navid Ghannad; Svante Andersson School of Business and Engineering, Halmstad University, Box 823, S-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden. ' School of Business and Engineering, Halmstad University, Box 823, S-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden born global childhood experiences entrepreneur backgrounds export strategies opportunity exploitation opportunities opportunity identification prior lives life stories entrepreneurial behaviour global firms globalisation entrepreneurial preferences entrepreneurial skills entrepreneurial desires total behaviour Sweden Polaris optic rimless eyewear spectacles Index Braille printers Liko lifts transfer equipment impaired mobility small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 136 153 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45202 This study addresses the roles of the board of directors and explores the relationships between the founder(s) and investors over the life cycle of the born global. More specifically, we posit that different interests between the founder and professional investors make the BG particularly vulnerable to faulty processes within the board. These issues are explored in three Norwegian BGs with different risk and ownership profiles. We find that: 1) conflicts are much more rife in fast growing BGs with external investors; 2) family and friends of the founder represent 'patient capital'; 3) agency problems are less prevalent than in 'ordinary firms'; 4) board members without concrete knowledge of the business of the BG firm are prone to play a lesser role in the strategic decision making process. Inside the boardroom of born globals
Carl Arthur Solberg; Trine Bretteville
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 154 - 170
This study addresses the roles of the board of directors and explores the relationships between the founder(s) and investors over the life cycle of the born global. More specifically, we posit that different interests between the founder and professional investors make the BG particularly vulnerable to faulty processes within the board. These issues are explored in three Norwegian BGs with different risk and ownership profiles. We find that: 1) conflicts are much more rife in fast growing BGs with external investors; 2) family and friends of the founder represent 'patient capital'; 3) agency problems are less prevalent than in 'ordinary firms'; 4) board members without concrete knowledge of the business of the BG firm are prone to play a lesser role in the strategic decision making process.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045202 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 154 - 170 Carl Arthur Solberg; Trine Bretteville BI Norwegian Business School, NO-0442 Oslo, Norway. ' Viseno, Kristian Augusts Gate 7B, 0164 Oslo, Norway born global board members company founders relationships competence agency problems boardrooms company directors life cycles faulty processes company boards Norway risk profiles ownership profiles conflicts external investors families friends patient capital business knowledge decision making strategic decisions Nebb Engineering Voss Water small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 154 170 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45203 Born Globals, the phenomenon of rapidly internationalising firms is widely accepted and noted in literature. Yet, in review of 51 empirical articles we found disquieting discrepancies in: operationalisation of the phenomenon concerning age of firms surveyed, speed, intensity, and scope of their internationalisation process. Based upon our analysis and results we invoke new directions for further research. Born Globals: (almost) 20 years of research and still not 'grown up'?
Beate Cesinger; Adriana Danko; Ricarda Bouncken
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 171 - 190
Born Globals, the phenomenon of rapidly internationalising firms is widely accepted and noted in literature. Yet, in review of 51 empirical articles we found disquieting discrepancies in: operationalisation of the phenomenon concerning age of firms surveyed, speed, intensity, and scope of their internationalisation process. Based upon our analysis and results we invoke new directions for further research.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045203 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 171 - 190 Beate Cesinger; Adriana Danko; Ricarda Bouncken University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 49, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Utrecht University School of Economics (USE), P.O. Box 80125, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. ' Dutch Institute for Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship (NIKOS), School of Management and Governance, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, NL-7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' University of Bayreuth, Prieserstr. 2, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany born global new business ventures internationalising firms operationalisation internationalisation speed internationalisation intensity internationalisation scope small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship rapid internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 171 190 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45204 This contribution focuses on the process related to the decision of entry into a complex market, as a relevant expression of international entrepreneurial attitude from a small firm. The construct of market complexity has rarely been adopted and explored in the international business literature, even though it may represent a useful complement in the market foreignness theory, in order to reach a deeper understanding of the liability of foreignness. Market complexity encompasses psychic distance, institutional distance, cultural distance and additionally includes the foreign market heterogeneity and volatility, competitive conditions and channels to access to market opportunities (distribution channels, business networks). An empirical research based on six case studies highlights the different dimensions of the liability of complexity, its subjective and objective nature, the influence on entry modes selection and the impact on the firms' knowledge base after the entry into a complex market. The internationalisation process of small- and medium-sized firms and the liability of complexity
Antonella Zucchella; Per Servais
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 191 - 212
This contribution focuses on the process related to the decision of entry into a complex market, as a relevant expression of international entrepreneurial attitude from a small firm. The construct of market complexity has rarely been adopted and explored in the international business literature, even though it may represent a useful complement in the market foreignness theory, in order to reach a deeper understanding of the liability of foreignness. Market complexity encompasses psychic distance, institutional distance, cultural distance and additionally includes the foreign market heterogeneity and volatility, competitive conditions and channels to access to market opportunities (distribution channels, business networks). An empirical research based on six case studies highlights the different dimensions of the liability of complexity, its subjective and objective nature, the influence on entry modes selection and the impact on the firms' knowledge base after the entry into a complex market.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045204 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 191 - 212 Antonella Zucchella; Per Servais Dipartimento di Ricerche Aziendali, University of Pavia, Via s. Felice 7, 27100, Pavia, Italy. ' Department of Marketing and Management, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark complex markets liability complexity entrepreneurial attitudes market foreignness psychic distance institutional distance cultural distance foreign markets market heterogeneity market volatility competitive conditions access channels market opportunities distribution channels business networks subjective nature objective nature entry modes knowledge base Italy Denmark Kenda Farben chemical products shoes footwear leather sterilisers pharmaceutical industry Fedegari Autoclavi Calzaturificio Moreschi Gasa Young Plants horticultural products horticulture Juliana greenhouses conservatories urban furniture street furniture Vekso small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 191 212 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45205 This paper investigates whether the degree of standardisation/adaptation of the overall international marketing strategy influences the export performance in SMEs, taking into account the moderating effect of internal and external variables. Drawing on a contingency approach of international marketing strategy standardisation/adaptation, a conceptual model is proposed and tested with a sample of Spanish exporting SMEs using structural equation modelling (SEM). Based on the findings, a more standardised international marketing strategy benefits larger SMEs and those firms which perceive the environmental differences between the home-host markets as important barriers for the export activity; whereas a more adapted international marketing strategy appears to be preferable for smaller SMEs as well as for companies which belong to low-technology industries or do not see the environmental differences as high export barriers. International marketing strategy and export performance in Spanish SMEs: a contingency approach
Maria Cristina Stoian; Alex Rialp; Josep Rialp
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 213 - 236
This paper investigates whether the degree of standardisation/adaptation of the overall international marketing strategy influences the export performance in SMEs, taking into account the moderating effect of internal and external variables. Drawing on a contingency approach of international marketing strategy standardisation/adaptation, a conceptual model is proposed and tested with a sample of Spanish exporting SMEs using structural equation modelling (SEM). Based on the findings, a more standardised international marketing strategy benefits larger SMEs and those firms which perceive the environmental differences between the home-host markets as important barriers for the export activity; whereas a more adapted international marketing strategy appears to be preferable for smaller SMEs as well as for companies which belong to low-technology industries or do not see the environmental differences as high export barriers.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045205 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 213 - 236 Maria Cristina Stoian; Alex Rialp; Josep Rialp Business Economics Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Edifici B, Campus de la UAB – Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain. ' Business Economics Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Edifici B, Campus de la UAB – Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain. ' Business Economics Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Edifici B, Campus de la UAB – Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain marketing strategies Spain international marketing export performance contingency approaches standardisation adaptation moderating effects internal variables external variables SEM structural equation modelling environmental differences home-host markets export barriers low-technology industries small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 213 236 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45206 Does the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship provide an explanation for the emergence of knowledge-based entrepreneurship in Ireland and Wales? To examine the reasons for different levels of knowledge-based entrepreneurship in these two regions we explore FDI and entrepreneurship policy. We outline key measures of knowledge creation, and evaluate the extent and nature of FDI activity and its relationship with entrepreneurship in general and knowledge-based entrepreneurship in particular. Policy implications include the need for more integrated policy directions for countries that are characterised by weak knowledge creating institutions yet wish to encourage knowledge-based entrepreneurship. The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship: an application to foreign direct investment
Zoltan J. Acs; David J. Brooksbank; Colm O'Gorman; David Pickernell; Siri Terjesen
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 237 - 261
Does the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship provide an explanation for the emergence of knowledge-based entrepreneurship in Ireland and Wales? To examine the reasons for different levels of knowledge-based entrepreneurship in these two regions we explore FDI and entrepreneurship policy. We outline key measures of knowledge creation, and evaluate the extent and nature of FDI activity and its relationship with entrepreneurship in general and knowledge-based entrepreneurship in particular. Policy implications include the need for more integrated policy directions for countries that are characterised by weak knowledge creating institutions yet wish to encourage knowledge-based entrepreneurship.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045206 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 237 - 261 Zoltan J. Acs; David J. Brooksbank; Colm O'Gorman; David Pickernell; Siri Terjesen School of Public Policy, George Mason University, 3401 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201, USA. ' Cardiff School of Management, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB, UK. ' DCU Business School, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland. ' Centre for Enterprise, Business School, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, UK. ' Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, 1309 E. 10th St., Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA knowledge spillovers foreign direct investment Ireland Wales FDI United Kingdom knowledge-based entrepreneurship entrepreneurship policies knowledge creation policy implications integrated policies policy directions knowledge creating institutions small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 237 261 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=45207 This paper explores within the framework of new venture legitimation how and why international new ventures acquire external legitimacy and strive for survival in the face of critical events. Following a longitudinal multiple-case study methodology that was adopted for the purpose of theory building, the paper introduces the typology of captivity, and the four types that have emerged: captive industry supplier, captive dyadic partner, captive market leader, and free market leader. The effects of captivity types on the acquisition of external legitimacy and its survival, on reaching legitimacy threshold, and on the valuation of the venture are discussed and respective propositions are put forward to guide future research. External legitimation in international new ventures: toward the typology of captivity
Romeo V. Turcan
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 262 - 283
This paper explores within the framework of new venture legitimation how and why international new ventures acquire external legitimacy and strive for survival in the face of critical events. Following a longitudinal multiple-case study methodology that was adopted for the purpose of theory building, the paper introduces the typology of captivity, and the four types that have emerged: captive industry supplier, captive dyadic partner, captive market leader, and free market leader. The effects of captivity types on the acquisition of external legitimacy and its survival, on reaching legitimacy threshold, and on the valuation of the venture are discussed and respective propositions are put forward to guide future research.

]]> 10.1504/IJESB.2012.045207 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 15, No. 2 (2012) pp. 262 - 283 Romeo V. Turcan Department of Business and Management, Aalborg University, Fibigerstræde 2, Aalborg, 9220, Denmark external legitimacy legitimation strategies international new ventures typologies theory building new business ventures captivity types survival critical events longitudinal methodologies multiple case studies captive suppliers industry suppliers captive partners dyadic partners captive leaders market leaders free markets legitimacy thresholds valuation small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs entrepreneurs international entrepreneurship internationalisation. 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00 15 2 262 283 2012-01-31T23:20:50-05:00