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Post-entry internationalization speed of SMEs: The role of relational mechanisms and foreign market knowledge

Zahoor, Nadia, Al-Tabbaa, Omar (2020) Post-entry internationalization speed of SMEs: The role of relational mechanisms and foreign market knowledge. International Business Review, . ISSN 0969-5931. (doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2020.101761) (KAR id:83323)

Abstract

Prior research shows that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can utilize domestic networks with internationally experienced partners to accelerate their internationalization process. Yet, there is a lack of clarity and limited empirical evidence regarding the role of relational mechanisms within these networks in driving post-entry internationalization speed (PIS) of SMEs. To address this gap, this study examines the relational mechanisms-PIS relationship by drawing insights from the relational view to argue that foreign market knowledge mediates the relationship between relational mechanisms and PIS. The hypothesized study model is tested using a structural equation modelling (SEM) technique on a sample of 394 UK based manufacturing SMEs. Our results show that foreign market knowledge acquisition from domestic networks fully mediates the relationship between relational mechanisms and PIS. Additionally, the linkage between foreign market knowledge acquisition and PIS is moderated by domestic environmental hostility, such that the relationship is strengthened when domestic environmental hostility increases. We discuss the contributions and implications of our results and suggest opportunities for future research.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2020.101761
Uncontrolled keywords: Relational mechanisms; foreign market knowledge; post-entry internationalization speed; environmental hostility; SMEs
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and International Business
Depositing User: Omar Altabbaa
Date Deposited: 08 Oct 2020 09:35 UTC
Last Modified: 11 Apr 2022 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/83323 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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