IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/globus/v24y2023i5p990-1006.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Networks in the Internationalization Process of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Wine-producing Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Mário Franco
  • Rui Martins

Abstract

This study aims to understand the role networks can play in the internationalization process of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the wine-producing sector. It adopted the qualitative method and focused on a wine-producing network in the Portuguese region of Ribatejo. For data collection, several interviews with key informants, direct observation and documentary analysis were used. Content analysis of the interviews showed that all the actors/partners involved in this study demonstrated their knowledge about the wine tradition and the specificities of the product, and that the wine-producing sector has improved considerably in Ribatejo, mainly at the hands of a new generation of entrepreneurs who have focused on internationalization using the network strategy. Empirical evidences showed that wine-producing SMEs in inter-organizational networks achieve internationalization more easily. The structure of the SMEs studied here is based on an inter-organizational, entrepreneur network, and as such, it is entrepreneurs who define the firm’s positioning based mainly on their intuition, managing to carry out their actions successfully. This study can help the owner-managers of wine-producing SMEs to implement future processes for their internationalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Mário Franco & Rui Martins, 2023. "The Role of Networks in the Internationalization Process of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Wine-producing Sector," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 24(5), pages 990-1006, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:globus:v:24:y:2023:i:5:p:990-1006
    DOI: 10.1177/0972150920927373
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0972150920927373
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0972150920927373?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ojala, Arto, 2009. "Internationalization of knowledge-intensive SMEs: The role of network relationships in the entry to a psychically distant market," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 50-59, February.
    2. James G. March, 1991. "Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 71-87, February.
    3. Donald F. Kuratko & David B. Audretsch, 2009. "Strategic Entrepreneurship: Exploring Different Perspectives of an Emerging Concept," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(1), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Felício, J. Augusto & Meidutė, Ieva & Kyvik, Øyvin, 2016. "Global mindset, cultural context, and the internationalization of SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 4924-4932.
    5. Ciravegna, Luciano & Lopez, Luis & Kundu, Sumit, 2014. "Country of origin and network effects on internationalization: A comparative study of SMEs from an emerging and developed economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 916-923.
    6. Leonidas C. Leonidou, 2004. "An Analysis of the Barriers Hindering Small Business Export Development," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 279-302, July.
    7. Mariola Ciszewska-Mlinarič, 2016. "Foreign Market Knowledge and SME’s International Performance: Moderating Effects of Strategic Intent and Time-to-Internationalization," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 4(4), pages 51-66.
    8. Javalgi, Rajshekhar (Raj) G. & Todd, Patricia R., 2011. "Entrepreneurial orientation, management commitment, and human capital: The internationalization of SMEs in India," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(9), pages 1004-1010, September.
    9. Sharma, D. Deo & Blomstermo, Anders, 2003. "The internationalization process of Born Globals: a network view," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(6), pages 739-753, December.
    10. Ankur Roy & Chandra Sekhar & Vishal Vyas, 2016. "Barriers to internationalization: A study of small and medium enterprises in India," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 513-538, December.
    11. Aileen Kennedy & Kathy Keeney, 2009. "Strategic partnerships and the internationalisation process of software SMEs," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 3(3), pages 259-273, September.
    12. 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.
    13. Lipparini, Andrea & Sobrero, Maurizio, 1994. "The glue and the pieces: Entrepreneurship and innovation in small-firm networks," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 125-140, March.
    14. Nakos, George & Brouthers, Keith D., 2008. "International alliance commitment and performance of small and medium-size enterprises: The mediating role of process control," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 124-137, June.
    15. Jane W. Lu & Paul W. Beamish, 2001. "The internationalization and performance of SMEs," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 565-586, June.
    16. Child, John & Hsieh, Linda & Elbanna, Said & Karmowska, Joanna & Marinova, Svetla & Puthusserry, Pushyarag & Tsai, Terence & Narooz, Rose & Zhang, Yunlu, 2017. "SME international business models: The role of context and experience," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 664-679.
    17. 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.
    18. Fernández-Mesa, Anabel & Alegre, Joaquín, 2015. "Entrepreneurial orientation and export intensity: Examining the interplay of organizational learning and innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 148-156.
    19. Manolova, Tatiana S. & Manev, Ivan M. & Gyoshev, Bojidar S., 2010. "In good company: The role of personal and inter-firm networks for new-venture internationalization in a transition economy," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 257-265, July.
    20. J. Hron, 2006. "Knowledge and strategic management," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 52(3), pages 101-106.
    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. 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.
    2. Zahoor, Nadia & Al-Tabbaa, Omar, 2021. "Post-entry internationalization speed of SMEs: The role of relational mechanisms and foreign market knowledge," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    3. Rimante Sedziniauskiene & Jurgita Sekliuckiene & Antonella Zucchella, 2019. "Networks’ Impact on the Entrepreneurial Internationalization: A Literature Review and Research Agenda," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 779-823, October.
    4. Ciravegna, Luciano & Majano, Sara B. & Zhan, Ge, 2014. "The inception of internationalization of small and medium enterprises: The role of activeness and networks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 1081-1089.
    5. Singh, Rashmeet & Chandrashekar, Deepak & Subrahmanya Mungila Hillemane, Bala & Sukumar, Arun & Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid, 2022. "Network cooperation and economic performance of SMEs: Direct and mediating impacts of innovation and internationalisation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 116-130.
    6. Ciravegna, Luciano & Kuivalainen, Olli & Kundu, Sumit K. & Lopez, Luis E., 2018. "The antecedents of early internationalization: A configurational perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(6), pages 1200-1212.
    7. Do, Hoa & Nguyen, Bach & Shipton, Helen, 2023. "Innovation and internationalization in an emerging market context: Moderating effects of interpersonal and organizational social networks," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    8. Child, John & Narooz, Rose & Hsieh, Linda & Elbanna, Said & Karmowska, Joanna & Marinova, Svetla & Puthusserry, Pushyarag & Tsai, Terence & Zhang, Yunlu, 2022. "External resource provision and the international performance of SMEs – A contextual analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    9. 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).
    10. Child, John & Hsieh, Linda H.Y., 2014. "Decision mode, information and network attachment in the internationalization of SMEs: A configurational and contingency analysis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 598-610.
    11. Juergensen, Jill Josefina & Narula, Rajneesh & Surdu, Irina, 2022. "A systematic review of the relationship between international diversification and innovation: A firm-level perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    12. D’Angelo, Alfredo & Presutti, Manuela, 2019. "SMEs international growth: The moderating role of experience on entrepreneurial and learning orientations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 613-624.
    13. Kalinic, Igor & Brouthers, Keith D., 2022. "Entrepreneurial orientation, export channel selection, and export performance of SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1).
    14. Child, John & Hsieh, Linda & Elbanna, Said & Karmowska, Joanna & Marinova, Svetla & Puthusserry, Pushyarag & Tsai, Terence & Narooz, Rose & Zhang, Yunlu, 2017. "SME international business models: The role of context and experience," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 664-679.
    15. Eduardsen, Jonas & Marinova, Svetla Trifonova & González-Loureiro, Miguel & Vlačić, Božidar, 2022. "Business group affiliation and SMEs’ international sales intensity and diversification: A multi-country study," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    16. Angulo-Ruiz, Fernando & Pergelova, Albena & Dana, Leo Paul, 2020. "The internationalization of social hybrid firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 266-278.
    17. Jean-Christophe Gessler, 2016. "Les pratiques collaboratives des PME en vue de leur développement international : une revue de littérature," Post-Print hal-01393156, HAL.
    18. Mathieu Cabrol & Véronique Favre-Bonté, 2011. "L'entrepreneur comme clef de voûte dans l'internationalisation rapide de son entreprise," Post-Print hal-00950491, HAL.
    19. Vivian Peuker Sardon Steinhäuser & Fábio de Oliveira Paula & Teresia Diana Lewe van Aduard Macedo-Soares, 2021. "Internationalization of SMEs: a systematic review of 20 years of research," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 164-195, June.
    20. Sushma Kumari & Vikrant Shirodkar & Steven McGuire, 2023. "Pre-Liberalization Foundations and the FDI-Based Internationalization of SMEs from Emerging Markets," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 641-671, August.

    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:sae:globus:v:24:y:2023:i:5:p:990-1006. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.imi.edu/ .

    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.