Title: Internationalisation and entrepreneurial orientation of multi-national organisations in emerging markets

Authors: Dean N. De Haaff; Boris Urban

Addresses: Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand, P.O. Box 98, Wits 2050, South Africa ' University of Witwatersrand, P.O. Box 98, Wits 2050, South Africa

Abstract: Understanding of emerging markets is rather fragmented with existing entrepreneurship research focusing almost exclusively on North American and European contexts. This article investigates the prevalence of entrepreneurial orientation and its role in the internationalisation of MNEs in the emerging markets of China, Malaysia and South Africa. Based on a longitudinal mixed methods approach, results from 21 listed MNEs indicates EO prevalence is linked to success, while firms are engaged in several modes of internationalisation. Correlational analyses confirms that EO enablers such as networks, knowledge, resources, branding and culture are found to be important in terms of internationalisation success across emerging economies and across time.

Keywords: internationalisation; entrepreneurial orientation; multinational enterprises; MNEs; emerging markets; innovation; culture; networks; entry modes; entrepreneurship; China; Malaysia; South Africa; knowledge; resources; branding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEM.2013.052981

International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, 2013 Vol.5 No.2, pp.165 - 182

Received: 14 Jul 2012
Accepted: 27 Oct 2012
Published online: 13 Nov 2013 *

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