The purpose with this thesis is to explain and explore how born global companies utilize important resources in the internationalization process. The globalized world that we live in today has increased the information sharing and new technologies have changed the way companies approach the international market. Evidence in previous literature has revealed that companies have a faster approach to the international market and tend to skip the incremental internationalization process that the traditional Uppsala internationalization model supports. These companies have instead been defined as born global companies that set up their activity targeting a market that is either global by nature or within a niche field that has a very limited potential on the domestic market. We have based on the existing literature of born global companies found a research gap that this thesis aims to fill, and that is to contribute with new understandings about which resources that are utilized during the internationalization process. In order to find an answer to this research gap, a research question was formed as follows: which resources are important for the born global company and how are resources utilized during the internationalization process? A framework has been created from the previous literature and we could see that much of the existing research was conducted on the born global company´s networks, knowledge and the lack of financial capital. We could moreover see that the characteristic of the founder was seen as important but that not much of the literature actually dealt with the importance of the resources at different stages in the internationalization process. In our methodology, we have used a point of departure in where the world is socially constructed and that every situation incorporates some elements of interpretive judgments. We have furthermore used an inductive approach and collected the data from qualitative case study interviews, in order to reveal new findings rather than to test existing theory. Our empirical data consists of findings from nine born global companies as well as three Incubator centers from the northern part of Sweden. The reason to include the Incubator centers in this thesis is to give the thesis a dimension of which resources experts within the field of start-ups companies believe are important for born global companies to possess in the internationalization process. All our companies are moreover located in the northern part of Sweden and can be seen as technology driven companies. The research reveals interesting findings about which resources that were utilized and when in the internationalization process resources were seen as important. The technological knowledge was found to be important early on in the internationalization process while competence of market and sales were seen as missing in the initial stage. The amount of financial capital was moreover often perceived as adequate in the early internationalization phase but inadequate in a later stage when the company wanted to expand and thus acquire more resources. Resources related to networks were seen as the most important resources and it tends to be personal networks early on in the internationalization process. These networks were seen as shifting more towards the company´s networks, as contacts with resellers, distributors as well as collaborations with partners were created during the internationalization process.

[pt] O movimento de internacionalização de empresas brasileiras iniciou-se pelo setor industrial; a internacionalização das empresas de varejo é um fenômeno mais recente no país. Assim, pesquisas sobre o processo de internacionalização de empresas varejistas brasileiras não são muito numerosas no Brasil, sobretudo sobre empresas de comércio eletrônico. Nesse contexto, o estudo objetivou investigar, através do método de estudo de caso da empresa B2W – Companhia Global do Varejo, o processo de interncaionalização de uma empresa brasileira de comércio eletrônico – suas motivações, como ela expandiu seus negócios no exterior, obstáculos enfrentados e fatores facilitadores do processo. Atuar internacionalmente foi uma forma de ampliação de mercado e diversificação para redução de riscos e hoje faz parte da estratégia de crescimento da empresa. O estudo utilizou dados secundários provenientes de teses, dissertações, artigos e Internet, além de dados primários coletados em entrevistas em profundidade com os principais executivos da empresa. A análise dos dados mostrou que as estruturas teóricas registradas nesta tese foram identificadas no processo de internacionalização da empresa estudada. / [en] The movement of internalization of brazilian enterprises is primarily characterized by the displacement of industrial companies; the internalization of retail business is a more recent phenomenon. Thus, studies on the internalization process of brazilian retail companies are not numerous yet in the country. In this context, the study aimed to investigate, using the method of case study of B2W – Companhia Global do varejo, the internalization process of a brazilian eCommerce company - their motives, how it expanded their business abroad and what were their main obstacles that have been faced and the facilitating factors of the process. Acting abroad was a way for widening markets and diversifying risks for the enterprise, and nowadays, it is the focus of its growing strategy. This study has utilized secondary data retrieved from theses, dissertation, articles and internet, besides primary data collected through in-depth interviews with main company executives. Data analysis showed that theoretical framework employed in this work was present in the internalization process of the company studied.

The healthcare service sector has recently entered the global arena and many nations sectors has opened up for private initiatives, which is explained by the rapid development and structural changes within the industry. However, regardless of considerable interest in the area among academics, very little has been concluded in terms of investigating internationalization of healthcare related services. The purpose of this study is to contribute with an enriched understanding regarding how Swedish medical service SMEs internationalize and what factors influence how - and in what way - the process unfolds. A conceptual model is developed, extending the theoretical discussion by integrating established SME and entrepreneurship literature with extant IB literature relevant for political salient industries. Conducting an exploratory multiple case study, rich empirical data is collected and analyzed in the light of the conceptual model. The research findings indicate that knowledge, networks, and institutional factors influence how the internationalization process of medical service SMEs unfolds to a large extent. The research contributes by concluding that the nature of the service as well as the home market institutional context constitute pivotal influential factors on the firms’ internationalization process and are added to the refined conceptual framework.

This research is to analyze the growth and evolution process of the Chinese enterprise group in China market place base on longitudinal perspective. In accordance with the finding of this study, we propose an integrated process model to explain the growth path and so does the dynamic mechanism among these dimensions in the model. The findings of this study are stated as below: 1. The integrated model of the evolution process Through the case study of Chai-Tai group in China, we consider the evolution and growth process is part of its internationalization activities. The dynamic interaction among the three dimensions of this model and the path dependence of each stage constitute the characteristics of this model. 2. The meaning of the un-related diversification strategy The growth strategy of the Chinese Business groups is deeply affected by their specific social network or guanxi, entry timing and the industry/business environment situation. Un-related diversification is a common selected strategy of these Chinese business groups. But they are usually suffering from the delusion of business focus and cannot produce synergy from the un-related business units. Consequently, the un-related diversification strategies are without benefits for the enterprises to maintain their market position and develop their core competences.

A evolução tecnológica e do comércio mundial tornaram o tema internacionalização de empresas um desafio para pesquisas da administração. A internacionalização pode ser entendida como uma alternativa de crescimento da firma. Dentre as questões relacionadas ao tema, podem ser verificadas as seguintes questões: quando as empresas optam por esta alternativa, os motivos que levam as empresas a buscarem mercados fora de sua base de origem, como as mesmas iniciam e desenvolvem seus processos de internacionalização, quais obstáculos que as empresas enfrentam quando participam do mercado internacional. As teorias existentes sobre o tema procuram explicar a internacionalização através de enfoques racionais e comportamentais. Se por um lado as tomadas de decisão das empresas em relação ao mercado externo têm como finalidade a minimização de custos para a obtenção de lucro, o que explica o percurso da empresa neste mercado é o aprendizado e conhecimento adquirido na realização do mesmo. Assim, o presente trabalho, através do método de estudo de caso, buscou verificar a internacionalização de empresas inseridas no setor de etanol brasileiro. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um esquema analítico que fosse capaz de descrever a internacionalização das empresas pesquisadas nos âmbitos individual da firma e da cadeia mundial na qual estão inseridas. Ademais, foram coletados dados secundários relativos ao setor e realizadas entrevistas com especialistas com conhecimento e trabalhos acumulados em torno do objeto de pesquisa. As empresas escolhidas apresentam comportamentos diferentes em relação ao processo de internacionalização. De um lado, uma empresa pertencente a um grupo internacionalizado na década de 1970, fundada em 2007 e com atuação em outros setores que não a agroindústria (construção civil, engenharia e petroquímica); de outro, uma Joint Venture formada por empresas familiares do setor no estado de São Paulo e fundada em 1997, com atuação no mercado internacional de etanol desde 2002. A primeira entende a internacionalização como sendo um processo natural onde desde sua concepção soube que participaria do mercado internacional e parece atuar neste com maior envolvimento que a segunda devido à busca por parcerias com agentes que controlam a cadeia mundial. A segunda entende que a internacionalização é uma oportunidade de mercado e que seu envolvimento com o mercado externo se dá até a comercialização do etanol para uma trading, desconhecendo as etapas após esta fase. Assim, o trabalho verificou e analisou o comportamento destas empresas e pode observar que parece ser diferente a postura das empresas pesquisadas em relação ao mercado internacional de etanol, tanto no que leva as mesmas a participarem deste mercado como aos obstáculos percebidos em relação ao mesmo. A atuação das empresas parece então se dar de acordo como cada uma das empresas pretende se envolver com este mercado. / Technological evolution and world trade have turned company internationalization into a challenge for business administration studies. Internationalization can be understood as an alternative for the company’s growth. The following questions concerning the subject can be pointed out: when do companies choose this alternative, the reasons that lead them to search for markets outside their original basis, how do they start and develop their internationalization processes, as well as what obstacles they face when participating in an international market. Current theories on the subject attempt to explain internationalization through rational and behavioral approaches. If, on one hand, companies’ decision-making towards the foreign market aim at minimizing costs in order to obtain profit, what explains the course of the company in this market is the learning and knowledge acquired in following that. Therefore, this research, through the case-study method, attempted to examine the internationalization of companies in the Brazilian ethanol sector. In order to do that, there was an analytical scheme able to describe the internationalization of the studied companies individually as well as the world chain in which they are inserted. Furthermore, secondary data concerning the sector were collected as well as interviews carried out with experts who have thoroughly studied the object of this research. The companies chosen show different behavior towards the internationalization process. On one hand, a company member of a group which was internationalized in the 70’s, founded in 2007 and working in sectors other than agribusiness (construction, engineering and petrochemical industry); on the other hand, a joint venture formed by companies which are familiar to the sector in São Paulo state and was founded in 1997, working in the ethanol market since 2002. The former understands internationalization as a natural process where, since its conception, would participate in the international market and seems to work in it with more involvement than the latter due to the search for partnerships with agents that control the world chain. The latter understands internationalization as a market opportunity and its involvement with the foreign market takes place up to ethanol trading, ignoring the steps after this phase. Therefore, the study examined and analyzed the actions of these companies and could observe that the attitude of the studied companies towards the ethanol international market seems to be different, not only in terms of the reasons that lead them to participate in this market, as well as the obstacles perceived towards it. The operation of the companies seems to take place according to how each one of them intends to get involved with this market.

A evolução tecnológica e do comércio mundial tornaram o tema internacionalização de empresas um desafio para pesquisas da administração. A internacionalização pode ser entendida como uma alternativa de crescimento da firma. Dentre as questões relacionadas ao tema, podem ser verificadas as seguintes questões: quando as empresas optam por esta alternativa, os motivos que levam as empresas a buscarem mercados fora de sua base de origem, como as mesmas iniciam e desenvolvem seus processos de internacionalização, quais obstáculos que as empresas enfrentam quando participam do mercado internacional. As teorias existentes sobre o tema procuram explicar a internacionalização através de enfoques racionais e comportamentais. Se por um lado as tomadas de decisão das empresas em relação ao mercado externo têm como finalidade a minimização de custos para a obtenção de lucro, o que explica o percurso da empresa neste mercado é o aprendizado e conhecimento adquirido na realização do mesmo. Assim, o presente trabalho, através do método de estudo de caso, buscou verificar a internacionalização de empresas inseridas no setor de etanol brasileiro. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um esquema analítico que fosse capaz de descrever a internacionalização das empresas pesquisadas nos âmbitos individual da firma e da cadeia mundial na qual estão inseridas. Ademais, foram coletados dados secundários relativos ao setor e realizadas entrevistas com especialistas com conhecimento e trabalhos acumulados em torno do objeto de pesquisa. As empresas escolhidas apresentam comportamentos diferentes em relação ao processo de internacionalização. De um lado, uma empresa pertencente a um grupo internacionalizado na década de 1970, fundada em 2007 e com atuação em outros setores que não a agroindústria (construção civil, engenharia e petroquímica); de outro, uma Joint Venture formada por empresas familiares do setor no estado de São Paulo e fundada em 1997, com atuação no mercado internacional de etanol desde 2002. A primeira entende a internacionalização como sendo um processo natural onde desde sua concepção soube que participaria do mercado internacional e parece atuar neste com maior envolvimento que a segunda devido à busca por parcerias com agentes que controlam a cadeia mundial. A segunda entende que a internacionalização é uma oportunidade de mercado e que seu envolvimento com o mercado externo se dá até a comercialização do etanol para uma trading, desconhecendo as etapas após esta fase. Assim, o trabalho verificou e analisou o comportamento destas empresas e pode observar que parece ser diferente a postura das empresas pesquisadas em relação ao mercado internacional de etanol, tanto no que leva as mesmas a participarem deste mercado como aos obstáculos percebidos em relação ao mesmo. A atuação das empresas parece então se dar de acordo como cada uma das empresas pretende se envolver com este mercado. / Technological evolution and world trade have turned company internationalization into a challenge for business administration studies. Internationalization can be understood as an alternative for the company’s growth. The following questions concerning the subject can be pointed out: when do companies choose this alternative, the reasons that lead them to search for markets outside their original basis, how do they start and develop their internationalization processes, as well as what obstacles they face when participating in an international market. Current theories on the subject attempt to explain internationalization through rational and behavioral approaches. If, on one hand, companies’ decision-making towards the foreign market aim at minimizing costs in order to obtain profit, what explains the course of the company in this market is the learning and knowledge acquired in following that. Therefore, this research, through the case-study method, attempted to examine the internationalization of companies in the Brazilian ethanol sector. In order to do that, there was an analytical scheme able to describe the internationalization of the studied companies individually as well as the world chain in which they are inserted. Furthermore, secondary data concerning the sector were collected as well as interviews carried out with experts who have thoroughly studied the object of this research. The companies chosen show different behavior towards the internationalization process. On one hand, a company member of a group which was internationalized in the 70’s, founded in 2007 and working in sectors other than agribusiness (construction, engineering and petrochemical industry); on the other hand, a joint venture formed by companies which are familiar to the sector in São Paulo state and was founded in 1997, working in the ethanol market since 2002. The former understands internationalization as a natural process where, since its conception, would participate in the international market and seems to work in it with more involvement than the latter due to the search for partnerships with agents that control the world chain. The latter understands internationalization as a market opportunity and its involvement with the foreign market takes place up to ethanol trading, ignoring the steps after this phase. Therefore, the study examined and analyzed the actions of these companies and could observe that the attitude of the studied companies towards the ethanol international market seems to be different, not only in terms of the reasons that lead them to participate in this market, as well as the obstacles perceived towards it. The operation of the companies seems to take place according to how each one of them intends to get involved with this market.

A evolução tecnológica e do comércio mundial tornaram o tema internacionalização de empresas um desafio para pesquisas da administração. A internacionalização pode ser entendida como uma alternativa de crescimento da firma. Dentre as questões relacionadas ao tema, podem ser verificadas as seguintes questões: quando as empresas optam por esta alternativa, os motivos que levam as empresas a buscarem mercados fora de sua base de origem, como as mesmas iniciam e desenvolvem seus processos de internacionalização, quais obstáculos que as empresas enfrentam quando participam do mercado internacional. As teorias existentes sobre o tema procuram explicar a internacionalização através de enfoques racionais e comportamentais. Se por um lado as tomadas de decisão das empresas em relação ao mercado externo têm como finalidade a minimização de custos para a obtenção de lucro, o que explica o percurso da empresa neste mercado é o aprendizado e conhecimento adquirido na realização do mesmo. Assim, o presente trabalho, através do método de estudo de caso, buscou verificar a internacionalização de empresas inseridas no setor de etanol brasileiro. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um esquema analítico que fosse capaz de descrever a internacionalização das empresas pesquisadas nos âmbitos individual da firma e da cadeia mundial na qual estão inseridas. Ademais, foram coletados dados secundários relativos ao setor e realizadas entrevistas com especialistas com conhecimento e trabalhos acumulados em torno do objeto de pesquisa. As empresas escolhidas apresentam comportamentos diferentes em relação ao processo de internacionalização. De um lado, uma empresa pertencente a um grupo internacionalizado na década de 1970, fundada em 2007 e com atuação em outros setores que não a agroindústria (construção civil, engenharia e petroquímica); de outro, uma Joint Venture formada por empresas familiares do setor no estado de São Paulo e fundada em 1997, com atuação no mercado internacional de etanol desde 2002. A primeira entende a internacionalização como sendo um processo natural onde desde sua concepção soube que participaria do mercado internacional e parece atuar neste com maior envolvimento que a segunda devido à busca por parcerias com agentes que controlam a cadeia mundial. A segunda entende que a internacionalização é uma oportunidade de mercado e que seu envolvimento com o mercado externo se dá até a comercialização do etanol para uma trading, desconhecendo as etapas após esta fase. Assim, o trabalho verificou e analisou o comportamento destas empresas e pode observar que parece ser diferente a postura das empresas pesquisadas em relação ao mercado internacional de etanol, tanto no que leva as mesmas a participarem deste mercado como aos obstáculos percebidos em relação ao mesmo. A atuação das empresas parece então se dar de acordo como cada uma das empresas pretende se envolver com este mercado. / Technological evolution and world trade have turned company internationalization into a challenge for business administration studies. Internationalization can be understood as an alternative for the company’s growth. The following questions concerning the subject can be pointed out: when do companies choose this alternative, the reasons that lead them to search for markets outside their original basis, how do they start and develop their internationalization processes, as well as what obstacles they face when participating in an international market. Current theories on the subject attempt to explain internationalization through rational and behavioral approaches. If, on one hand, companies’ decision-making towards the foreign market aim at minimizing costs in order to obtain profit, what explains the course of the company in this market is the learning and knowledge acquired in following that. Therefore, this research, through the case-study method, attempted to examine the internationalization of companies in the Brazilian ethanol sector. In order to do that, there was an analytical scheme able to describe the internationalization of the studied companies individually as well as the world chain in which they are inserted. Furthermore, secondary data concerning the sector were collected as well as interviews carried out with experts who have thoroughly studied the object of this research. The companies chosen show different behavior towards the internationalization process. On one hand, a company member of a group which was internationalized in the 70’s, founded in 2007 and working in sectors other than agribusiness (construction, engineering and petrochemical industry); on the other hand, a joint venture formed by companies which are familiar to the sector in São Paulo state and was founded in 1997, working in the ethanol market since 2002. The former understands internationalization as a natural process where, since its conception, would participate in the international market and seems to work in it with more involvement than the latter due to the search for partnerships with agents that control the world chain. The latter understands internationalization as a market opportunity and its involvement with the foreign market takes place up to ethanol trading, ignoring the steps after this phase. Therefore, the study examined and analyzed the actions of these companies and could observe that the attitude of the studied companies towards the ethanol international market seems to be different, not only in terms of the reasons that lead them to participate in this market, as well as the obstacles perceived towards it. The operation of the companies seems to take place according to how each one of them intends to get involved with this market.

The purpose of this study was to examine a Higher Education Institution’s (HEI) process of internationalization. The theoretical model developed by Van Dijk and Miejer (1997) was used to review Florida International University (FIU)’s policy, support, and implementation dimensions and determine its position on the Internationalization Cube, and assess how FIU’s international activities fit into its different organizational processes. In addition, the study sought to shed light on student and faculty attitudes toward internationalization. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from examining organizational documents, interviews, descriptive data on FIU’s international activities using the International Dimension Index, and the Student and Faculty Survey on Internationalization. FIU’s international activities results were analyzed in relation to a panel of experts’ item relevancy index. The Likert-type survey scales’ frequencies and percentages were calculated as well as Spearman Rho correlations between the survey’s three scales and demographic and experiences variables. The study found that FIU is located on position six of a possible eight positions on the Van Dijk and Meijer Internationalization Cube with the following characteristics: Priority Policy, One-Sided Support, and Structured Implementation toward internationalization. The analysis of FIU’s results on international activities showed that FIU exhibits all the activities considered to be strong indicators of internationalization but for position seven placement special attention is needed in the areas of foreign language study, international students, study abroad, faculty movement and involvement in international projects. The survey indicated students and faculty rated the Benefits of Internationalization highly but didn’t perceive strong institutional Support for Internationalization. Faculty age and offshore programs participation; student gender, race/ethnicity and class status; and for both, study abroad and knowledge of students travel grant had significant positive correlations with student and faculty attitudes. The study concluded that an association exists between FIU’s position on the Internationalization Cube and its international activities. Recommendations for policy, implementation, and future studies were made. It was concluded that advancing FIU’s position on the Cube will require adjustments in FIU’s policy, support and implementation dimensions. Differences in student and faculty views toward internationalization should be taken into account when planning internationalization efforts.

Despite its contemporary relevance, we still have limited empirical knowledge about the forces underlying complex internationalization processes as when multinational corporations (MNCs) seek to enter new growing markets. Based on a real-time process study comprising ninety interviews and two hundred hours of observation made between 2009 and 2012, Atlas Copco’s entry into the Chinese mid-market was investigated. The intra-organizational analysis showed that three inter-related processes were underlying Atlas’ market entry and the results suggest that multiple interrelated motors may drive many contemporary internationalization processes. The processes identified are a sequential strategy process, an evolutionary process which shows that routines changed, and a political process. A somewhat surprising finding is that the main driver of internationalization according to received theory, the firm’s accumulated experiences, not only can drive internationalization, but may also hamper MNC managers’ possibilities to enter many of today’s new and growing markets. The findings add to our knowledge of the internationalization process in an increasingly complex international business setting, and especially highlight the need to distinguish between the sequential strategy process – more in line with received theory – and the other processes, in order to get a more full-fledged picture of what internationalization in large MNCs is all about.

Social entrepreneurship, defined as entrepreneurial activities with a clear mission to create social value, is gaining increased influence and importance in the economy. Through combining a for-profit mindset with social objectives, social enterprises provide groundbreaking solutions to societal needs. The global presence and impact of social enterprises raise the importance of internationalization of this specific kind of enterprise. This is an area of inquiry that has gained limited attention in academia and empirical studies have been few. The purpose of the study is to investigate motives for internationalization of social enterprises and how these enterprises establish in foreign markets. The study consists of an empirical investigation based on a survey sample of 65 respondents and one background interview. The result shows that the main motive for internationalization of social enterprises is to alleviate social problems. Social enterprises have a distinct international character, show patterns of early and rapid internationalization and can be characterized as international new ventures with a distinct social mission. Networks affect motives as well as choice of entry mode of social enterprises. The most common mode of entry of social enterprises is to establish alliances or partnerships with foreign actors and the main target market is less developed economies.