Internationalization of SMEs: analysis of resources and internal capabilities using fuzzy logic

SMEs in the textile and apparel sector face major internationalization challenges arising from the dynamics of globalization and the signature of free trade agreements during the last decade. It is then necessary to analyze the export capability of these enterprises in terms of the resources, skills, and abilities needed to participate successfully in the international scene. A fuzzy inference system is proposed to model the resources, skills, and capabilities that determine export success. Linguistic variables, collected from entrepreneurs, experts, consultants, and researchers in the field, were used to define the internal factors that explain export capabilities. The proposed model is validated by using the textile and clothing cluster in Medellin, Colombia, as a case study. The model reports a particular global index of 26.7 for export capabilities. On the one hand, the result confirms the hypothesis that the capabilities and resources currently available to the sector are not sufficient for a successful integration into the international market, and most importantly, on the other hand, it specifies which factors and variables are important to improve the export capability of the sector.