IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/iburev/v33y2024i4s0969593124000234.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Diversity management and firms’ internationalization: Evidence from French SMEs

Author

Listed:
  • Breuillot, Angélique
  • Bocquet, Rachel
  • Favre-Bonté, Véronique

Abstract

Although internationalizing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are heterogenous as a population, they face similar resource constraints, such that resource management is central to their internationalization efforts. However, the management of diversity, as a specific resource, remains insufficiently studied. Building on resource-based theory, this article explores how SME managers assign value to diversity and implement diversity management across various types of internationalizing SMEs. The multiple-case qualitative study, involving 14 SMEs that represent traditional internationalizers, early internationalizing firms, and born-again globals, reveals that diversity is valued and managed differently by different categories of internationalizing SMEs. For early internationalizing firms, within-type heterogeneity is stronger than between-type heterogeneity. Furthermore, SMEs may value resource diversity as instrumental, terminal, or even destructive, which influences how they manage it. In presenting ideas for the effective strategic management of diversity, as displayed by some SMEs, this article contributes to research on SMEs’ internationalization and diversity management.

Suggested Citation

  • Breuillot, Angélique & Bocquet, Rachel & Favre-Bonté, Véronique, 2024. "Diversity management and firms’ internationalization: Evidence from French SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(4).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:33:y:2024:i:4:s0969593124000234
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102276
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969593124000234
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102276?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Saeed, Abubakr & Sameer, Muhammad, 2017. "Impact of board gender diversity on dividend payments: Evidence from some emerging economies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1100-1113.
    2. Jiang, Guohua & Kotabe, Masaaki & Zhang, Feng & Hao, Andy W. & Paul, Justin & Wang, Cheng Lu, 2020. "The determinants and performance of early internationalizing firms: A literature review and research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    3. Gabrielsson, Mika & Kirpalani, V.H. Manek & Dimitratos, Pavlos & Solberg, Carl Arthur & Zucchella, Antonella, 2008. "Born globals: Propositions to help advance the theory," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 385-401, August.
    4. Jan Johanson & Jan-Erik Vahlne, 2009. "The Uppsala internationalization process model revisited: From liability of foreignness to liability of outsidership," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(9), pages 1411-1431, December.
    5. Richard J. Arend, 2004. "The Definition of Strategic Liabilities, and their Impact on Firm Performance," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(6), pages 1003-1027, September.
    6. Morais, Flávio & Ferreira, João J., 2020. "SME internationalisation process: Key issues and contributions, existing gaps and the future research agenda," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 62-77.
    7. Aggarwal, Raj & Jindal, Varun & Seth, Rama, 2019. "Board diversity and firm performance: The role of business group affiliation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 1-1.
    8. Harris, Simon & Wheeler, Colin, 2005. "Entrepreneurs' relationships for internationalization: functions, origins and strategies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 187-207, April.
    9. Jan Henrik Gruenhagen & Sukanlaya Sawang & Scott R. Gordon & Per Davidsson, 2018. "International experience, growth aspirations, and the internationalisation of new ventures," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 421-440, September.
    10. Birgit Hagen & Antonella Zucchella, 2014. "Born Global or Born to Run? The Long-Term Growth of Born Global Firms," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 497-525, August.
    11. Laufs, Katharina & Schwens, Christian, 2014. "Foreign market entry mode choice of small and medium-sized enterprises: A systematic review and future research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 1109-1126.
    12. Pierre-Xavier Meschi & Antonin Ricard & Ernesto Tapia, 2017. "Fast and Furious or Slow and Cautious? The Joint Impact of Age at Internationalization, Speed, and Risk Diversity on the Survival of Exporting Firms," Post-Print hal-01456066, HAL.
    13. Braunerhjelm, Pontus & Halldin, Torbjörn, 2019. "Born globals – presence, performance and prospects," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 60-73.
    14. Jan Johanson & Jan-Erik Vahlne, 1977. "The Internationalization Process of the Firm—A Model of Knowledge Development and Increasing Foreign Market Commitments," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 8(1), pages 23-32, March.
    15. Rialp, Alex & Rialp, Josep & Knight, Gary A., 2005. "The phenomenon of early internationalizing firms: what do we know after a decade (1993-2003) of scientific inquiry?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 147-166, April.
    16. Zucchella, Antonella & Palamara, G. & Denicolai, S., 2007. "The drivers of the early internationalization of the firm," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 268-280, September.
    17. Dominguez, Noémie & Mayrhofer, Ulrike, 2017. "Internationalization stages of traditional SMEs: Increasing, decreasing and re-increasing commitment to foreign markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1051-1063.
    18. Régis Coeurderoy & Gordon Murray, 2008. "Regulatory environments and the location decision: evidence from the early foreign market entries of new-technology-based firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(4), pages 670-687, June.
    19. Angélique Breuillot, 2021. "Exploring the Role of Diversity Management During Early Internationalizing Firms’ Internationalization Process," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 125-156, April.
    20. Thomas Hutzschenreuter & Johannes C. Voll & Alain Verbeke, 2011. "The Impact of Added Cultural Distance and Cultural Diversity on International Expansion Patterns: A Penrosean Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 305-329, March.
    21. Mike W Peng, 2004. "Identifying the big question in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(2), pages 99-108, March.
    22. McDougall, Patricia Phillips & Oviatt, Benjamin M., 1996. "New venture internationalization, strategic change, and performance: A follow-up study," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 23-40, January.
    23. Martineau, Charles & Pastoriza, David, 2016. "International involvement of established SMEs: A systematic review of antecedents, outcomes and moderators," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 458-470.
    24. Kuivalainen, Olli & Saarenketo, Sami & Puumalainen, Kaisu, 2012. "Start-up patterns of internationalization: A framework and its application in the context of knowledge-intensive SMEs," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 372-385.
    25. Pongelli, Claudia & Majocchi, Antonio & Bauweraerts, Jonathan & Sciascia, Salvatore & Caroli, Matteo & Verbeke, Alain, 2023. "The impact of board of directors’ characteristics on the internationalization of family SMEs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    26. Onkelinx, Jonas & Manolova, Tatiana S. & Edelman, Linda F., 2016. "The human factor: Investments in employee human capital, productivity, and SME internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 351-364.
    27. Majbritt Evald & Kim Klyver & Poul Christensen, 2011. "The effect of human capital, social capital, and perceptual values on nascent entrepreneurs’ export intentions," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, March.
    28. Loane, S. & Bell, J.D. & McNaughton, R., 2007. "A cross-national study on the impact of management teams on the rapid internationalization of small firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 489-504, December.
    29. Rivas, Jose Luis, 2012. "Diversity & internationalization: The case of boards and TMT's," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 1-12.
    30. Madsen, Tage Koed & Servais, Per, 1997. "The internationalization of Born Globals: An evolutionary process?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 6(6), pages 561-583, December.
    31. Baum, Matthias & Schwens, Christian & Kabst, Ruediger, 2015. "A latent class analysis of small firms’ internationalization patterns," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 754-768.
    32. Khan, Zaheer & Lew, Yong Kyu, 2018. "Post-entry survival of developing economy international new ventures: A dynamic capability perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 149-160.
    33. Noémie Dominguez & Ulrike Mayrhofer, 2017. "Internationalization stages of traditional SMEs: Increasing, decreasing and re-increasing commitment to foreign markets," Post-Print hal-01599209, HAL.
    34. Lindstrand, Angelika & Melén, Sara & Nordman, Emilia Rovira, 2011. "Turning social capital into business: A study of the internationalization of biotech SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 194-212, April.
    35. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Ulf Andersson & Mary Yoko Brannen & Bo Bernhard Nielsen & A. Rebecca Reuber, 2016. "From the Editors: Can I trust your findings? Ruling out alternative explanations in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(8), pages 881-897, October.
    36. Nishant Kumar, 2012. "The resource dynamics of early internationalising Indian IT firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 255-278, September.
    37. Lin, Wen-Ting & Lee, Chia-Ling & Ahlstrom, David, 2023. "Internationalization and breaking the glass ceiling: An institutional perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(1).
    38. Beleska-Spasova, Elena & Glaister, Keith W. & Stride, Chris, 2012. "Resource determinants of strategy and performance: The case of British exporters," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 635-647.
    39. Sasi, Viveca & Arenius, Pia, 2008. "International new ventures and social networks: Advantage or liability?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 400-411, December.
    40. Alex Rialp & Josep Rialp & David Urbano & Yancy Vaillant, 2005. "The Born-Global Phenomenon: A Comparative Case Study Research," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 133-171, June.
    41. de Jong, Gjalt & van Houten, Jerry, 2014. "The impact of MNE cultural diversity on the internationalization-performance relationship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 313-326.
    42. Tim R. Holcomb & R. Michael Holmes Jr. & Brian L. Connelly, 2009. "Making the most of what you have: managerial ability as a source of resource value creation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 457-485, May.
    43. James P Johnson & Tomasz Lenartowicz & Salvador Apud, 2006. "Cross-cultural competence in international business: toward a definition and a model," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(4), pages 525-543, July.
    44. V. Warnier & X. Weppe & X. Lecocq, 2013. "Extending resource-based theory : considering strategic, ordinary and junk resources," Post-Print hal-00843373, HAL.
    45. Rubina Romanello & Maria Chiarvesio, 2017. "Turning point: when born globals enter post-entry stage," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 177-206, June.
    46. Rachel Bocquet & Christian Le Bas & Caroline Danièle Mothe & Nicolas Poussing, 2019. "Strategic CSR for innovation in SMEs: Does diversity matter?," Post-Print hal-02380559, HAL.
    47. Brian D’Netto & Amrik S. Sohal, 1999. "Human resource practices and workforce diversity: an empirical assessment," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 20(8), pages 530-547, December.
    48. Benjamin M Oviatt & Patricia Phillips McDougall, 1994. "Toward a Theory of International New ventures," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 25(1), pages 45-64, March.
    49. James M. Bloodgood & Harry J. Sapienza & James G. Almeida, 1996. "The Internationalization of New High-Potential U.S. Ventures: Antecedents and Outcomes," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 20(4), pages 61-76, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Angélique Breuillot, 2021. "Exploring the Role of Diversity Management During Early Internationalizing Firms’ Internationalization Process," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 125-156, April.
    2. Angélique Breuillot & Rachel Bocquet & Véronique Favre-Bonté, 2022. "Navigating the internationalization process: Strategic resources for early internationalizing firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 282-315, June.
    3. Rubina Romanello & Maria Chiarvesio, 2019. "Early internationalizing firms: 2004–2018," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 172-219, June.
    4. Jones, Marian V. & Coviello, Nicole & Tang, Yee Kwan, 2011. "International Entrepreneurship research (1989–2009): A domain ontology and thematic analysis," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 632-659.
    5. Farhad Uddin Ahmed & Louis Brennan, 2021. "A review of methodological diversity within the domain of international entrepreneurship," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 256-299, June.
    6. Dzikowski, Piotr, 2018. "A bibliometric analysis of born global firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 281-294.
    7. Witt, Alessa & Khalik, Mahmoud & Godinez, Jose, 2024. "The internationalization of hidden champions from Germany and the UK: An extension to the Born-Again Global path," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2).
    8. Joan Freixanet & Ryan Federo, 2022. "When Born Globals Grow Up: A Review and Agenda for Research on the Performance of Maturing Early Internationalizers," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(6), pages 817-857, December.
    9. Sleuwaegen, Leo & Onkelinx, Jonas, 2014. "International commitment, post-entry growth and survival of international new ventures," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 106-120.
    10. Paul, Justin & Parthasarathy, Sundar & Gupta, Parul, 2017. "Exporting challenges of SMEs: A review and future research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 327-342.
    11. Jiang, Guohua & Kotabe, Masaaki & Zhang, Feng & Hao, Andy W. & Paul, Justin & Wang, Cheng Lu, 2020. "The determinants and performance of early internationalizing firms: A literature review and research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    12. Paul, Justin, 2020. "SCOPE framework for SMEs: A new theoretical lens for success and internationalization," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 219-230.
    13. Tuomisalo, Teemu & Leppäaho, Tanja, 2019. "Learning in international new ventures: A systematic review," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 463-481.
    14. Yoruk, Deniz E. & Bunduchi, Raluca & Yoruk, Esin & Crișan-Mitra, Catalina & Salanță, Irina-Iulia & Crișan, Emil Lucian, 2021. "Pathways to innovation in Romanian software SMEs: Exploring the impact of interdependencies between internationalisation and knowledge sources," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    15. Appiah, Emmanuel Kusi & Gabrielsson, Peter & Rialp Criado, Alex, 2025. "The role of digitalization in early internationalization Research: A systematic literature review and future research directions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    16. Odlin, Denis, 2019. "Domestic competitor influence on internationalizing SMEs as an industry evolves," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 119-136.
    17. Hamid Etemad, 2023. "The emerging new architecture in international entrepreneurship: Dynamic impacts of business models transformation favoring accelerated internationalization of smaller enterprises," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 271-300, September.
    18. Bagheri, Mahshid & Mitchelmore, Siwan & Bamiatzi, Vassiliki & Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos, 2019. "Internationalization Orientation in SMEs: The Mediating Role of Technological Innovation," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 121-139.
    19. Choquette, Eliane & Rask, Morten & Sala, Davide & Schröder, Philipp, 2017. "Born Globals—Is there fire behind the smoke?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 448-460.
    20. Hélène Laurell & Svante Andersson & Leona Achtenhagen, 2013. "The importance of industry context for new venture internationalisation: A case study from the life sciences," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(4), pages 297-319, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:33:y:2024:i:4:s0969593124000234. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/133/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.