Over the past few years, the accelerated internationalisation by SMEs from Emerging Markets (EM-SMEs) have been facilitating by the phenomenon of the Cloud Computing. This technology as a new strategic approach has become in the centre of attention of many scholars and pragmatists. Despite prevalent use of Cloud-Computing Utilisation (CCU) and fast-paced growth of using this technology among the EM-SMEs, yet few studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of utilising this new technology to mitigate the internationalisation barriers of the EM-SMEs towards their accelerated internationalisation. Therefore, this research study endeavours to explore the effectiveness of the CCU in mitigation of the EM-SMEs’ internationalisation-barriers towards an accelerated internationalisation. The research survey was conducted online by SurveyMonkey with the use of random and snowball sampling methods for the collection of data from the top managers of 227 SMEs in different industries in two contexts of Iran and Turkey. A quantitative research methodology was conducted with the use of self-administrated questionnaires. In addition, the structural equation modelling (SEM) was used in data analysis by the use of IBM® SPSS® Amos software. The key findings of this research study shed light on the effectiveness of the CCU for the EM-SMEs to accelerate their internationalisation. The findings of this research confirm that the CCU enables the EM-SMEs to mitigate informational, operational, marketing and environmental barriers and consequently this technology enables the EM-SMEs to accelerate their internationalisation. This research study contributes theoretically in both International Business (IB) and Information System (IS) respectively by identifying and classifying the EM-SMEs internationalisation barriers, and by providing and confirming a series of effective the CCU’s solutions to mitigate the EM-SMEs’ internationalisation barriers. Moreover, this research study contributes methodologically by applying the SEM data analysis with the use of AMOS software in order to investigate the effectiveness of the CCU as well as quantifying the magnitude level of EM-SEMs’ integration with CC based on the definition of cloud computing (CC) which has been defined by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, 2011). Furthermore, the empirical outcomes of this research study contribute that the CCU facilitates the EM-SMEs to mitigate their informational, operational, marketing and environmental barriers towards an accelerated internationalisation. Therefore, this research contributes empirically to the EM-SMEs’ decision-makers and the cloud service providers (CSPs) in order to get the most out of this phenomenon.

Regarding that the business model is widely used in e-business, we consider that every business should have its own business model which helps a company to evaluate the business and also create a dynamic business. In addition, the emphasis of this research is combined with another element – Born Global, which caters the globalization trend in recent decades. In fact, there are more and more Born Globals setting up in emerging market countries such as China, especially most of them are involved in manufacturing industry. In this case, the focus of this research is on the business model of Chinese manufacturing Born Globals. We investigate deeply through the interaction of each component of the business model to see how Chinese manufacturing Born Globals design and manage their business to achieve successful internationalization within China’s particular political and social background.   After reviewing abundant literatures about business model components, we conclude them into 11 components categories. Furthermore, we combine the critical success factors of Chinese Born Globals with the business model components we summarized together to find what elements may more important to Chinese Born Globals’ internationalization. Based on these, we build a new framework which includes all the 11 elements, 3 interfaces, 2 frames and 1 external environment factor to investigate how these elements interact with each, what is the logic behind the business model generally and how the external environment influence the business model. At the end, we give out a probable evaluation method for the business model.   Qualitative case study is adopted in this paper. We choose a Chinese manufacturing Born Global as case company. Both secondary and primary data are used in this research. We gather primary data through questionnaire survey and 4 times interviews. Due to the wide range of our topic and large size of our case company, we use a lot secondary data to get more comprehensive understandings of the case company.   Through the analysis of case company, we get the main picture of how Chinese manufacturing Born Glonals’ business model look like. In the conclusion, firstly we give out a brief description of what is Chinese manufacturing Born Globals’ business model. Moreover, we find the human resources within the business model cause Chinese Born Globals’ production ability, innovation ability and finally contribute to its important OEM production. As a result, we actually use the Chinese manufacturing Born Globals’ business model to explain their rapid international success. Besides that, we also get some new findings of Chinese manufacturing Born Globals from the aspects of internationalization motivation, process and success factors. According to the evaluation of Chinese manufacturing Born Globals’ business model, we find some crucial problems for example the lost brand value, the low profit and poor sustainability. These conclusions actually provide some managerial suggestions for Chinese manufacturing companies who aim to go abroad or reform their business models. / no

<p>Abstract</p><p>The process of internationalization of firms has in the past been seen as something that is costly and time-consuming. For those reasons, companies took long before they started expanding internationally, growing strong in domestic markets first. However, now there are companies being started, that right from the outset start producing and selling on international markets. Companies that behave this way are a rather new phenomenon and are known as Born Globals.</p><p>The purpose of our thesis was to increase the understanding of factors that are important for explaining Born Globals rapid internationalization, and also how these factors have affected the process.</p><p>Most of the research done on Born Globals has been of high-tech companies. However, the phenomenon is not limited to them. Therefore we researched one high-tech company and one low-tech to see if there are similarities in the driving forces behind their rapid internationalization.</p><p>Four factors have been addressed repeatedly when trying to explain Born Global’s behavior: Globalization, Industry, Entrepreneur and Networks. These factors were used as a theoretical framework for our thesis. However, our findings point out that to gain a deeper understanding, the interdependent relationship between the variables should also be taken into consideration.</p><p>After gathering empirical data through interviews with key people in each company, our findings point out that access to complimentary resources and a possibility to control them efficiently was important in explaining both companies rapid internationalization. By focusing on the core competencies of the company and outsourcing other value-adding functions, companies are able to internationalize rapidly even with scarce resources. Access to resources through networks, as well as entrepreneurial ambition helped speed up this process.</p><p>Keywords: Born Globals, Rapid Internationalization</p>

Current theoretical insights into firm internationalisation have mainly focused on large American multinationals or on smaller early internationalising firms. Global niche players, often competing alongside or even complementary, have been less researched. They, like larger players, often strive to go global and dominate their market segments simply to survive and endure processes of global consolidation and often it is necessary to achieve top global positions. One such successful global niche strategy variant is ‘Global Hidden Champions’ (GHCs), which are low profile, global top three under US$ 5 billion firms, mainly found in Germany (Simon, 2012). The question becomes pressing: how do GHCs reach world market leadership? This study seeks to identify through which internationalisation paths and associated market entry modes 30 GHCs investigated from Germany and Britain reached global dominance and the specific competitive advantages without which such strategies would not have succeeded. This thesis takes an evolutionary historic perspective by distinguishing enduring with less-enduring GHCs, established at various points in time between 1838 and 2007. A qualitative multiple case study approach is used based on 30 cases, 15 from each country. The abductive stance facilitates deductions of existing theoretical frameworks, whilst also allowing exploratory new themes to emerge. Structured and semi-structured interviews, combined with documentation, allow triangulation of findings and help minimise bias. Guided by the conceptual framework, data has been thematically coded, analysed and systematically explored, allowing several new themes to emerge. Not one single GHC was found pursuing the traditional Uppsala Model internationalisation path. Instead 43% were identified as Born Globals (BGs); 20% as Born-Again Globals (BAGs); but no less than 37% emerged as quite different hybrid internationalisers, which because of their quite distinctive traits, were denoted ‘Re- Born-Again Globals’ (Re-BAGs). The analysis involved innovative methodological analysis, which further clarified some partial overlap of BGs, BAGs, and re-BAGs with Uppsala Model features, yet decided differences in terms of tempo and direction. All three alternative paths led to top three global market leadership positions, depending on the GHCs context and historical circumstances. Nevertheless, recently established GHCs pursued BG paths, whereas more enduring GHCs almost all followed BAG and re-BAG paths. Younger British GHCs frequently embarked on early proactive paths, whilst their more enduring German equivalents pursued more belated internationalisation routes. History emerged as pivotal. BAGs and re-BAGs were both distinguished by critical incidents which, in all 17 cases, shifted strategies on to much more proactive internationalisation paths. German GHCs, though, shifted primarily in response to technology advances, whereas British GHCs typically responded to specific management appointments. Literature on accelerated internationalisation paths, such as in relation to BGs, remains unclear on commitments beyond trade. Yet, 90% of GHCs deployed substantial foreign direct investment (FDI), in addition to mere trade activity. Initially, German GHCs grew organically focusing on neighbouring markets. In contrast, British GHCs often used acquisitions and targeted more global, in particular, Commonwealth markets. FDI thus emerged as a crucial addition to export activity in all three alternative paths followed by BGs, BAGs and re-BAGs enabling them to sustain leading global market positions. Yet, such paths were in turn contingent upon competitive advantages. GHCs from both countries complied remarkably closely with 6 out of 8 of Simon’s (2009) identified theoretical HC Model traits: being ‘leadership with ambitious goals’; ‘innovation’; ‘high-performance employees’; ‘closeness to customer’; ‘globalisation’, and ‘focus’. More in depth, albeit exploratory, analysis further uncovered the critical role played by ‘visions and values’ and ‘brand’, leading to a new tentative theoretical GHC Model. This new Model, moreover, recognises a virtuous cycle of market leadership advantages from which more enduring GHCs particularly benefitted. It also integrates comfortably with Teece’s (2014) model of dynamic capabilities, extending his framework by including market leadership approaches and more precise competitive advantages of the GHC Model, alongside more specific concepts relating to entrepreneurial orientation. In summary, this study contributes to the knowledge of how both long-standing and newer German and British GHCs conquer global markets by unveiling their specific and successful internationalisation paths, market entry mode choices and their underlying competitive advantages.

Abstract The process of internationalization of firms has in the past been seen as something that is costly and time-consuming. For those reasons, companies took long before they started expanding internationally, growing strong in domestic markets first. However, now there are companies being started, that right from the outset start producing and selling on international markets. Companies that behave this way are a rather new phenomenon and are known as Born Globals. The purpose of our thesis was to increase the understanding of factors that are important for explaining Born Globals rapid internationalization, and also how these factors have affected the process. Most of the research done on Born Globals has been of high-tech companies. However, the phenomenon is not limited to them. Therefore we researched one high-tech company and one low-tech to see if there are similarities in the driving forces behind their rapid internationalization. Four factors have been addressed repeatedly when trying to explain Born Global’s behavior: Globalization, Industry, Entrepreneur and Networks. These factors were used as a theoretical framework for our thesis. However, our findings point out that to gain a deeper understanding, the interdependent relationship between the variables should also be taken into consideration. After gathering empirical data through interviews with key people in each company, our findings point out that access to complimentary resources and a possibility to control them efficiently was important in explaining both companies rapid internationalization. By focusing on the core competencies of the company and outsourcing other value-adding functions, companies are able to internationalize rapidly even with scarce resources. Access to resources through networks, as well as entrepreneurial ambition helped speed up this process. Keywords: Born Globals, Rapid Internationalization

Företagsvärlden, med avseende på företagets mognad och om de väljer hemmamarknaden eller den internationella marknaden som den primära, tidigare var indelad i tre större områden. Dock har det under de senaste åren skapats en fjärde typ av företag, Born Globals. Dessa företag utnyttjar det faktum att världen virtuellt sett har blivit mindre, exempelvis genom användandet av Internet. Dessa verkar skilja sig från de traditionella företagen i både struktur och tillvägagångssätt. Vi analyserar därför i denna studie möjligheten att applicera traditionella affärsmodellsteorier på de nya Born Global företagen. Studien avser även delvis att identifiera potentiella faktorer för teoretiskt skapande av nya affärsmodellsteorier, men också till att identifiera en grund till en modell som Born Global företagen praktiskt kan använda i uppstartsfasen. Hur kan dagens traditionella affärsmodellsteorier appliceras på de moderna Born Global företagen, vilken är den eventuella diskrepansen och varför? För att besvara problemformuleringen på bästa sätt genomförde vi fyra djupintervjuer med nystartade företag som avser operera på den internationella marknaden redan i uppstartsfasen. Vid intervjuerna ställdes frågor kring det faktiska tillvägagångssättet företagen haft, men också frågor kring incitament till uppstarten. För att på bästa sätt analysera resultatet av den empiriska studien har vi tagit stöd i olika teorier. Dessa utgörs exempelvis av nätverkande, Flamholtz sexstegspyramid men också Uppsalamodellen. Denna modell har legat till grund för i stort sätt all övrig forskning kring internationaliserande företag. Vi identifierar en del tydliga kopplingar till att dessa modeller och teorier är applicerbara även på Born Globals, men vi ser också att de på flera signifikanta punkter skiljer sig. Detta ledde till att vi skapade en egen modell, baserad på det empiriska resultatet intervjuerna gav oss. Vi sammanlänkade dessa med de befintliga modellerna och teorierna för att sedan skapa den modell vi kallar I-STAND-modellen.

Background: Ever since the Born Global phenomenon has emerged in the early 1990s, it has been investigated from various perspectives as for example from the network-based view. However, research has exclusively been done within this field at early stages of Born Globals’ internationalization. Therefore, there is a lack of understanding of how Born Global firms continue their operations after their initial internationalization. Research Question: How does networking influence a Born Global firm in order to continue its international growth? Purpose: The purpose with this study is to increase the understanding of how networking influences an already internationally established Born Global firm in order to continue its international growth. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework is divided into four different categories, namely Maintenance and Increase of Network, Personal and Inter-Organisational Network, The Strength of a Network Tie and Causation and Effectuation, which have been developed based on the literature review. At the end, the theoretical framework is summarized with a model indicating the categories’ influence on the continued international growth of Born Globals. Methodology: For this study a qualitative research method has been chosen where both secondary and primary data have been collected. A case study consisting of two Swedish companies has been conducted. Conclusions: This study shows that efficient and strategic networking is crucial for the continued international growth of Born Globals, which is supported by the establishment of routines and standardized criteria. It is of the highest importance to keep a close contact to customers and to preserve control over the network, which can be realized by having strong relationships to distributors or agents or by establishing own sales subsidiaries. Furthermore, it is noticeable that network relationships shift from a personal to a predominantly business-based character during the continued international growth of Born Globals. Managerial Implications: Managers should perceive networking as a crucial part of their firms’ continued international growth and implement networking in their overall internationalization strategy. Essential for a long-term success is to keep control over the increasing network and stay as close as possible to the increasing number of customers. Theoretical Implications: The findings of this study imply that the role of networking as well as the networks’ characteristics change over time during Born Globals’ continued international growth. Keywords: SMEs, Born Globals, Internationalization, Growth, Network

Under de senaste 20 åren har born global-företag, som fenomen, stått i rampljuset för forskning. Detta fenomen anses av vissa forskare strida mot tidigare kända internationaliseringsteorier. Uppsalamodellens förklaringsgrad för born global-företag har därmed blivit ifrågasatt. Frågeställningen som denna uppsats har som mål att förklara är om ett born global-företags internationalisering förklaras av Uppsalamodellen? Om inte, hur kan man utveckla Uppsalamodellen till att även inkludera born global-företag? För att undersöka forskningsfrågan har det genomförts en granskande litteraturgenomgång, en sammanställning av born global-företag samt en fallstudie. Litteraturgenomgången berör främst Uppsalamodellen och born global-forskning och visar på att det finns både likheter och skillnader mellan de två sidorna. Sammanställningen av born global-företag visar att fenomenet fortfarande är relativt ovanligt. Genom fallstudien har vi undersökt de påverkansfaktorer som belystes i litteraturgenomgången. Resultatet av granskningen visar att Uppsalamodellen fortfarande är aktuell men att förklaringsgraden skulle kunna stärkas genom att förtydliga interna och externa påverkansfaktorer.

Entreprenören visar sig genom tidigare studier vara en framgångsfaktor för Born global-företag. Med utgångspunkt i detta antagande undersöks på vilka olika sätt entreprenören bidrar till företags snabba internationalisering, genom att studera entreprenörens bakgrund, egenskaper och framtidsvisioner. Studien bygger på intervjuer med sex stycken entreprenörer, tillika grundare eller medgrundare av svenska företag som snabbt blivit globala. Studien visar att det finns både likheter och skillnader mellan entreprenörernas bakgrund, egenskaper och framtidsvisioner. Vidare visar resultatet att det mest utmärkande hos entreprenörerna som bidrar till den snabba internationaliseringen av Born globals är en stark drivkraft, viljan att uppfylla personliga motiv och förmågan att kunna tillvarata internationella affärsmöjligheter. Studien visar att antagandet om att entreprenören tycks vara en framgångsfaktor stämmer och vi har kommit fram till att det är viktigt att i detalj studera och analysera entreprenören för att förstå vad det är som frambringar fenomenet Born globals.

Avec la participation accrue des économies émergentes dans l’économie mondiale, les Born Globals de ces pays deviennent des acteurs significatifs. L’objectif de notre recherche est d’étudier le processus d’internationalisation des Born Globals chinoises, ainsi que d’explorer les facteurs clés expliquant ce processus d’internationalisation précoce et rapide. Pour répondre à notre questionnement, une double méthodologie a été employée : une approche quantitative par une étude exploratoire suivie d’une approche qualitative par une étude de cas multiples. Nous avons choisi la province du Zhejiang comme terrain de recherche, car la plupart des PME de cette région s’orientent dès leur création vers l’international. A partir d’une analyse des littératures relatives à l’internationalisation des PME et des Born Globals, nous avons identifié sept facteurs principaux dans le processus d’internationalisation des Born Globals et nous les avons examinés dans le contexte chinois par une étude exploratoire. Suite à cette étude qui nous a permis d’identifier les dirigeants et les réseaux comme facteurs clés expliquant l’internationalisation rapide des Born Globals chinoises, nous avons réalisé une analyse inter-cas auprès de sept Born Globals chinoises. Cette étude nous a permis de comprendre l’action de ces deux facteurs clés dans l’internationalisation rapide des Born Globals ainsi que leur impact sur ce processus. / With the increased participation of emerging countries in the global economy, the Born Globals in these countries become significant players. The aim of our research is to study the internationalization process of Chinese Born Globals and to explore the key factors explaining their early and rapid process of internationalization.To answer our questions, a double methodology was used: a quantitative approach of an exploratory study followed by a qualitative approach of a multiple case study. We choose the Zhejiang province as our research field because most SMEs in this region start to internationalize soon after their creation.From a literature review of the internationalization of SMEs and Born Globals, we have identified seven key factors in the internationalization process of Born Globals and we have examined them in the Chinese context through an exploratory study. Following this exploratory study, which allowed us to identify the leaders and the networks as two key factors explaining the rapid internationalization of Chinese Born Globals, we conducted a cross-case analysis within seven Chinese Born Globals. This study allowed us to understand the functions of these two key factors in the rapid internationalization of Born Globals as well as their impact on this process.