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Becoming a Global SME: Determinants of SMEs' Decision to Use E‐Intermediaries in Export Marketing
Author(s) -
Cho Hyuksoo,
Tansuhaj Patriya Silpakit
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
thunderbird international business review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.553
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1520-6874
pISSN - 1096-4762
DOI - 10.1002/tie.21567
Subject(s) - intermediary , competitor analysis , transaction cost , business , industrial organization , database transaction , context (archaeology) , commerce , marketing , computer science , finance , paleontology , biology , programming language
Abstract Technological advances have made it feasible for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) to become active in global markets through information technology (IT)‐mediated electronic intermediaries (e‐intermediaries) instead of relying only on traditional export channels. E‐intermediaries may offer SMEs a level playing field for competing with their larger competitors. Based on transaction cost economics (TCE), this study develops a model that can address the question of which transaction costs and characteristics are closely related to e‐intermediary use by SMEs. In addition to providing a better understanding of e‐intermediaries, the study explores the relationships between e‐intermediary use, transaction costs, and transaction characteristics in the context of Korean SMEs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.