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Pre-Internationalization and Performance Conditions of First-Time Exporting SMEs

Author

Listed:
  • Pierre-Xavier Meschi

    (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon)

  • Antonin Ricard

    (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon, AMU IAE - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE) - Aix-en-Provence - AMU - Aix Marseille Université)

  • Ernesto Tapia Moore

    (KEDGE Business School [Marseille])

Abstract

This article aims to determine whether pre-internationalization conditions improve the performance of first-time exporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Two pre-internationalization conditions are discussed here: firm performance and age at internationalization. Building on the aspiration-level performance model of March and Shapira (1992) with sequential internationalization and international new-ventures approaches, this article develops two research hypotheses proposing an effective alignment with pre-internationalization performance and age at internationalization. These research hypotheses are examined using a panel database of 522 French SMEs that began export operations for the first time in 2014. The statistical results partially support our first hypothesis by showing that early-internationalizing SMEs with a lower performance relative to their peers significantly increase their post-internationalization performance. Contrary to what we predicted in our second hypothesis, we observe that late-internationalizing SMEs, which deliver a much higher performance than their historical aspirations, significantly reduce their post-internationalization performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre-Xavier Meschi & Antonin Ricard & Ernesto Tapia Moore, 2021. "Pre-Internationalization and Performance Conditions of First-Time Exporting SMEs," Post-Print hal-03216166, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03216166
    DOI: 10.37725/mgmt.v24i1.4507
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://amu.hal.science/hal-03216166
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kent Eriksson & Jan Johanson & Anders Majkgård & D. Deo Sharma, 2000. "Effect of Variation on Knowledge Accumulation in the Internationalization Process," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 26-44, March.
    2. Rodrigo Bandeira-De-Mello & Pervez Ghauri & Ulrike Mayrhofer & Pierre-Xavier Meschi, 2015. "South-South and South-North expansion strategies: What are the theoretical and empirical implications for research in management?," Post-Print hal-01139289, HAL.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Aspiration-level performance model; Early internationalization; First-time exporting SME; Internationalization process; Late internationalization; Social and historical aspirations;
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