Title: TMT international orientation and firm internationalisation: evidence from Italy

Authors: Gianpaolo Baronchelli; Fabio Cassia; Mariella Piantoni

Addresses: Department of Management, Economics and Quantitative Methods, University of Bergamo, Via dei Caniana 2, Bergamo 24127, Italy ' Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, Via dell'Artigliere 19, Verona 37129, Italy ' Department of Management, Economics and Quantitative Methods, University of Bergamo, Via dei Caniana 2, Bergamo 24127, Italy

Abstract: Several studies have highlighted a significant relationship between the degree of international orientation of a firm's Top Management Team (TMT) and the firm's international development. Previous analyses on this issue have been conducted using samples of firms from countries (such as the UK, USA and Switzerland) whose national culture is characterised by a low degree of uncertainty avoidance (UA). The purpose of this paper is to extend the available knowledge to include firms operating in cultures with a high degree of UA, and which may perceive the internationalisation process as a threat. Four hypotheses are suggested and tested using data from the Italian firms listed on the Italian Stock Exchange - FTSE MIB index. Our findings show that the national diversity of TMT members is positively related to firm internationalisation. Moreover, the international working experience and international educational experience of TMT members are important, but only when they are combined.

Keywords: TMT international orientation; top management team; upper echelons theory; uncertainty avoidance; international experience; international education; TMT foreign members; firm internationalisation; Italy; TMT national diversity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2015.073477

International Journal of Management Practice, 2015 Vol.8 No.4, pp.296 - 310

Received: 31 Jan 2015
Accepted: 07 Jul 2015
Published online: 09 Dec 2015 *

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