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Network relationships and internationalization in Tunisian high‐tech SMEs
Author(s) -
Mejri Issam,
Ramadan Maarouf
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
global business and organizational excellence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.227
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 1932-2062
pISSN - 1932-2054
DOI - 10.1002/joe.21827
Subject(s) - internationalization , business , high tech , industrial organization , small and medium sized enterprises , small business , business networking , commerce , marketing , economic geography , business model , international trade , electronic business , economics , finance , political science , law
How do the dynamics of social and business networks influence the internationalization of small to medium‐size high‐tech businesses? This question is particularly relevant for small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies, which frequently do not have access to the resources required for successful international expansion. A qualitative study of three Tunisian firms explores the role played by networks in the internationalization of high‐tech SMEs. The results show that personal, local, and international networks have a significant impact on the SMEs’ access to the resources they need for their ongoing internationalization. The results of the study lead to three propositions concerning the internationalization of SMEs and highlight their implications for practitioners.