Title: Entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation and internationalisation in born global small and micro-businesses

Authors: Claire Arpa; Siobhan Tiernan; Michele O'Dwyer

Addresses: Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. ' Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. ' Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation and internationalisation in born global small and micro-businesses in Ireland, when owner-manager perceptions are taken into account. Following an exploration of the major theoretical approaches of SME internationalisation and performance, and entrepreneurial/market orientations, a qualitative study is undertaken on owner-managers of four born global firms to present a conceptual model. Although there are a number of studies on born global firms and extensive research on entrepreneurial and market orientations, this study proposes to combine internationalisation and orientation approaches in studying small and micro-businesses. Future studies could empirically test the proposed new conceptual model within a large sample.

Keywords: small businesses; born globals; entrepreneurial orientation; market orientation; SME internationalisation; Ireland; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; entrepreneurship; micro-businesses; owner-manager perceptions; conceptual modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.047612

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.16 No.4, pp.455 - 470

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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