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Exploration of Chinese SMEs' export development: The role of managerial determinants based on an adapted innovation‐related internationalization model
Author(s) -
Yan Hongmin,
Wickramasekera Rumintha,
Tan Alvin
Publication year - 2018
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.21969
Subject(s) - internationalization , business , china , promotion (chess) , industrial organization , government (linguistics) , perception , quality (philosophy) , marketing , international trade , political science , linguistics , philosophy , epistemology , neuroscience , politics , law , biology
Over the past two decades, small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in China have achieved rapid international development. Due to China's unique cultural and institutional environments, our understanding of the influence of managerial determinants on internationalization is still limited. This exploratory study takes the lens of the innovation model of internationalization to revisit the dynamic development of Chinese SMEs' export operations. Based on the four in‐depth case studies, the findings suggest that exports by Chinese SMEs are influenced by managerial perceptions such as negative country‐of‐origin effect and strict overseas quality standards. In addition, they show that both external and internal drivers act as “change agents” in their internationalization involvement. These findings will assist various stakeholders—government and export promotion agencies—to develop and deliver needs‐based supports and encourage nonexporters to participate in international operations.