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This article aims to find out if pre-exit financial (FP) and internationalization (IP) performance indicators can be used for predicting full de-internationalization (ceasing all export activities; CE). To achieve that, a theoretical concept focusing on the behavior of these predictors is built, and three research questions are postulated. Full de-internationalization is an under-researched topic in international business studies, while quantitative studies focusing on its predictors are especially rare. This study fills both gaps by providing population-level evidence for the theoretical concept. The dataset is composed of Estonian exporters that ceased or continued exporting in 2010–2022. IP variables focus on export scale, intensity and scope, while FP variables focus on liquidity, solvency, profitability and revenue-creation capability. The variables cover the timespan of three (pre-exit) years. To outline the significance of predictors and accuracies in the whole population and for different types of exporters, initially, logistic regression is applied, after which the prediction models are also composed with neural networks. Before CE, IP is in a gradual decline, while the bulk of this decline is concentrated shortly before the exit. Before CE, exporters are constantly liquidity- and solvency-constrained, while the problems with revenue creation and profitability are much shorter-lived. That population-level behavior is subject to substantial variation for different types of exporters, especially regarding FP. Prediction models incorporating the full set of variables achieve high accuracy; however, predictive performance declines as the time to exit increases and varies across exporter types. IP variables are more beneficial for predicting CE. The latter also serve as the main practical implications of the paper.

Purpose Under given environmental uncertainties, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of brokers on the networking behaviour of small- and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) and the subsequent impact on the performance of SMEs. The following five different types of brokers were tested, namely, coordinator, representative, cosmopolitan, liaison and gatekeeper brokers. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed by using the hierarchical regression method. Findings The results from the hierarchical regression analysis of 198 Czech firms showed that coordinator and representative brokers moderate the relationship between environmental uncertainty and networking behaviour. However, under high environmental uncertainty, the coordinator broker worked best, whereas in the host country, under low environmental uncertainty, the representative broker worked best. Originality/value The findings of this study have useful implications for SMEs in selecting an appropriate broker for strengthening their networking behaviour in the international market. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of various types of brokers on networking behaviour during their internationalization of SMEs. More specifically, this study examined if and how, given the uncertainties in the international market, multiple brokers help SME executives develop networking behaviour.

Internationalization of SMEs is encouraged by the advantages of new environmental conditions and appealing business opportunities, but remains a challenging process. Top management teams and more specifically board of directors appear to be a critical determinant in addressing internationalization issues. In recent years, investigation of boards in small firms’ context has been an interest of scholars, however few investigated characteristics of human capital.  This study aims to investigate whether board usage of knowledge and skills is a mediator linking characteristics of human capital of board and internationalization performance of SMEs in Lithuania. The results revealed that usage of knowledge and skills mediates the relationships between international business skills and internationalization performance. Obtained results contribute to international entrepreneurship and upper-echelons theories by highlighting the role of the board in SMEs and linking it to higher internationalization performance through their usage of knowledge and skills.  This study fills the research gap and extends the extant studies in internationalization of SMEs. First, the study responds to the need to investigate how board’s capital affect internationalization. Secondly, the study responds to the need to go beyond input-output models. First published online 14 December 2021

PurposeThis work proposes that a multi-national service company (MNSC) needs to develop dynamic customer-oriented relational capabilities (DCRC), constituting dynamic service customization (DySC), dynamic customer integration (DyCI) and dynamic timeliness of service delivery (DyTSD) capabilities, to gain competitive advantage and performance in its internationalization efforts.Design/methodology/approachFor empirical validation of the framework, developed through qualitative interviews, this study includes multi-cross-sectional data from twelve countries, four each in the category of underdeveloped (Africa), developing (Asia) and developed economies (Europe). Covariance-based structural equation modelling is used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe study supports that DySC, DyCI and DyTSD capabilities have a significant positive influence on firm competitive advantage and performance across economies. The levels of competition intensity and regulatory restrictions, an outcome of the type of economy, have negative intervening effects, with varying intensities across economies.Practical implicationsThis work guides the internationalization service managers to leverage DCRC across national borders keeping the state of the economy into consideration.Originality/valueThis work proposes a model of DCRC, based on the Intangibility, Heterogeneity, Inseparability and Perishability (IHIP) service framework, that enables firms to derive competitive advantage and performance across economies with varying environmental conditions.

The existing literature highlights the role of digital technology innovation in driving the international performance of enterprises. However, it has largely overlooked the nonlinear relationships that emerge from their quest for contributing towards global sustainable development goals. Our study explores the nonlinear influence of digital technology innovation on firms’ international performance, further investigating how this relationship may be moderated by sustainability readiness, as measured through sustainable technological capabilities and sustainable certification standards. Using a double fixed effects model on a sample of 269 Chinese listed digital enterprises from 2012 to 2019, our findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between digital technology innovation and internationalization performance, which is more pronounced for firms with superior sustainable technological capabilities. However, the influence of sustainable certification standards is less noticeable. We further identify notable differences between the digital service and digital manufacturing sectors, thereby enriching our comprehension of the complex relationships between digital innovation, sustainability readiness, and international performance.

PurposeSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies face significant challenges in formulating effective strategies to enter international markets, particularly amid uncertain conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, there is a pressing need to examine the performance of these SMEs and evaluate their internationalization process. This study aims to examine the effects of international entrepreneurial orientation on the internationalization performance of SMEs and the mediating effects of organizational dynamic capability and organizational culture in Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quantitative method with a survey approach by distributing questionnaires to 206 SMEs in Indonesia that have implemented internationalization practices. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to predict and estimate relationships.FindingsThis study finds that one of the SMEs’ strategies to encounter the new normal era of COVID-19 is to improve their internationalization performance, especially by actively participating in international markets. The empirical results show that organizational dynamic capabilities and organizational culture are proven to fully mediate the relationship between international entrepreneurial orientation and the internationalization performance of SMEs. Meanwhile, international entrepreneurial orientation does not directly affect SMEs’ internationalization performance. This study confirms the mediating role of organizational dynamic capabilities and organizational culture in dynamic capabilities theory and their relevance to internationalization.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insights and encourages owner-managers and policy-makers in emerging economies, particularly Indonesia, to develop organizational dynamic capabilities and organizational culture that align with the demands of internationalization.

The extant literature on international new ventures (INVs) has primarily focused on the emergence of INVs, leaving a research gap regarding their performance consequences. INVs face challenges associated with foreignness and newness but also benefit from the learning advantages of newness, enabling them to adapt and perform better in new markets. Only a handful of studies probed the performance consequence of early internationalization by INVs, and empirical evidence has yielded inconclusive results. Existing literature also points out that emerging market firms encounter an additional hurdle due to their country of origin, but prior INV literature is mostly from advanced economies. Therefore, this study investigates whether early internationalization of emerging market INVs positively or negatively impacts their overall financial performance. Our findings, derived from the Indian context, reveal a nonlinear S-shaped relationship, whereby INVs initially experience a performance decline, followed by improvement, and ultimately a negative impact with excessive internationalization. Furthermore, we explore the contingent effect of the industry sector (manufacturing versus services) on performance and find that the S-shaped relationship is more accentuated for service sector INVs. In summary, this study contributes to our understanding of the internationalization-performance relationship for emerging market INVs, sheds light on the concept of learning advantages of newness, and examines the moderating effect of the industry sector.

This study investigates the relationship between green technology, company green commitment, and the internationalization performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on the mediating role of eco-innovation and the moderating effect of government support programs. Based on a resource-based view, we develop and test a comprehensive model using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method to determine the variables that significantly affected the mechanisms (i.e., green technology, company green commitment) and internationalization performance. The results revealed that both green technology and company green commitment positively affect the internationalization performance of SME with eco-innovation mediating the relationships. Furthermore, the government support programs moderate the relationship between SMEs’ green technology/company green commitments and internationalization performance by strengthening this relationship under higher levels of institutional support. This suggests that policymakers need to focus on the intensity and effectiveness of government support programs, and enterprises should actively integrate high-quality policy resources to maximize international competitiveness. The findings contribute to sustainable international business by elucidating the mechanisms through which sustainable development translates into competitive advantages. Practical implications suggest that SME managers should strategically align technological and commitment-based green elements while actively leveraging governmental support mechanisms to optimize international expansion.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mixed results of the relationship between technological resources and internationalization performance. It argues that a high proportion of technological resources bound to be used in home countries decrease internationalization performance, which is moderated by organizational slack. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data from Korean-listed pharmaceutical firms from 1998 to 2010. Tobit regression is used to test the hypotheses since the dependent variable takes a value within a limited range. Findings The empirical results show that a high ratio of home country-bound technological resources reduces internationalization performance. This negative relationship is reinforced as organizational slack increases. Originality/value This study reveals why technological resources do not always result in effective internationalization. Furthermore, its focus on organizational slack as an intrafirm contingency contributes to recent attempts to reveal organizational slack’s role in internationalization.

There are few studies in the past which have worked on evaluating the capability of the marketing teams as the means of generating an effective strategy in terms of competiveness in the market and creation of advantage that is held by a firm in the market. However, the aim behind conducting this research is to find an effective mechanism or formula to have better performance in the export field, internationalization success, and marketing communication mainly by analyzing the role that is played by the marketing capabilities. Moreover, the researcher has mapped the relationship which exists between the capabilities and communication with the mediating impact of competitive strategy has also been evaluated in this research paper. The population of this study was the employees of different pharmaceutical firms of Thailand, and the sample was 300 entrepreneur of pharmaceutical business. The results and findings show that the impact of marketing capabilities has been favorable to enhance the export performance of the sector. Furthermore, the findings also indicate that the mediating variable of competitive strategy also positively mediates the relationship that exists between the variables of marketing capabilities and marketing communication. This study has significant implications on MC and export performance.