Title: Internationalisation of the small and medium family firm in Japan

Authors: Rahul Anand

Addresses: KAIST College of Business, 87, Hoegiro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-772, South Korea

Abstract: In recent years, small family businesses in Japan are under enormous pressure to expand outside of home country due to various reasons. The purpose of this paper is to look for the appropriate internationalisation path for small and medium family firms in Japan as well as other strategic internationalisation factors and determinants. The study, qualitative research was conducted using case study as the research strategy. A small and medium sector food company was selected and studied with a prospective focus. The findings of the case study show that Uppsala, network model of internationalisation is more appropriate for the particular small and medium family business in Japan along with multi polar relationships and symbiotic management with large firms.

Keywords: internationalisation; international entrepreneurship; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; family firms; family enterprises; SMFEs; family businesses; Japan; strategy; symbiotic management; food industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2013.055598

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2013 Vol.11 No.2, pp.117 - 135

Published online: 21 Nov 2013 *

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