Title: The impact of decision-maker's identity on SME internationalisation: Do origins matter?

Authors: Lutz Sommer, Hans-Rudiger Kaufmann, Manuel Haug, Susanne Durst

Addresses: Department of Business Administration and Engineering, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Jakobstrasse 1, Albstadt 72458, Germany. ' School of Business, University of Nicosia, 46 Makedonitissas Avenue, Nicosia 1700, Cyprus. ' Department of Business Administration and Engineering, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Jakobstrasse 1, Albstadt 72458, Germany. ' Institute of Entrepreneurship, University of Liechtenstein, Furst-Franz-Josef-Strasse, Vaduz 9490, Principality of Liechtenstein

Abstract: This paper examines if the identity shaped by the region does have an influence on the owner-manager|s managerial behaviour. A survey approach was chosen, addressing SMEs from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, to address the research aim. The hypotheses posed were investigated applying hierarchical cluster analysis. Based on it different clusters were identified relating to different types of owner–manager identity. The findings provide a fruitful base for a better understanding of the owner-manager|s influence on the company|s internationalisation process and assist in developing specific policies for different characters of owner-managers. Furthermore, the study|s findings suggest that owner-managers of small countries are made of other sets of identities compared with their German counterparts indicating a different course of action in terms of internationalisation.

Keywords: small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; internationalisation; entrepreneurial identity; business education; decision making; owner-managers; managerial behaviour; regions; origins; Austria; Germany; Liechtenstein; Switzerland; hierarchical cluster analysis; small countries; globalisation; global entrepreneurship; entrepreneurs; identity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2010.034023

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2010 Vol.5 No.1, pp.90 - 113

Published online: 06 Jul 2010 *

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