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.

The purpose of this thesis is to gain deeper knowledge on what factors impacted the internationalization process of Swedish banks. By distinguishing the factors the goal is to increase the understanding and awareness of the effect of these factors can have on foreign banks or financial institutions when internationalizing to a transition economy. To be able to create a wider perspective the study has been conducted through a qualitative method and an abductive research approach. We have been able to collect primary data by conducting interviews with the banks that have been a part of this multiple case study. In order to develop an understanding and to be able to fulfil our purpose with the thesis the main research question is formulated as follows: What factors have impacted the internationalization of Swedish banks to the Baltic market?   The theoretical review includes previous research and theories related to internationalization, business environment and factors that can impact the internationalization process. The methodology chapter explains the approach, method and design we have used. The empirical data and the theoretical framework are discussed in order to find out what drove the banks to the internationalization.   The analysis will describe how the banks have internationalized, why the banks chose one specific market in the beginning and the reason to why the internationalization occurred in the first place.   The conclusion shows that the most important factor of the internationalization to the Baltic countries was because of the change in the governmental and economical structure. The factors that affect the choice of country is also significant, with the reason to see which country was most developed during the time the Swedish banks entered the market.

[pt] Pesquisas recentes no campo do empreendedorismo internacional têm sido cada vez mais focadas na descoberta, criação, avaliação e exploração de oportunidades, através de fronteiras nacionais, para criar bens e serviços futuros. O presente estudo investigou o processo de reconhecimento de oportunidades em mercados externos de duas editoras brasileiras. Foram explorados os fatores – e suas possíveis combinações – que influenciariam uma empresa, positiva e negativamente, a reconhecer oportunidades de expansão internacional. O trabalho foi de natureza qualitativa e o método utilizado foi o de estudo de casos. Foram realizadas entrevistas com os principais executivos responsáveis pela área internacional dessas editoras e levantados dados secundários sobre as mesmas. Paralelamente, foi desenvolvida uma análise do setor editorial e de sua internacionalização. Os resultados permitiram traçar a evolução do processo de internacionalização de tais empresas, identificando etapas, eventos importantes e os fatores que determinaram o reconhecimento das principais oportunidades no mercado internacional, sendo confrontados com a literatura sobre o tema. / [en] Recent research in the field of international entrepreneurship have been increasingly focused on the discovery, creation, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities across national borders, in order to create future goods and services. The present study investigated the process of recognizing opportunities in foreign markets of two Brazilian publishers. The factors - and their possible combinations - that influence a company, both positively and negatively, to recognize opportunities for international expansion were explored. The study was qualitative in nature and the method used was the case study. Interviews with senior executives responsible for publisher s international department were conducted and secondary data were collected. In parallel, an analysis of the publishing industry and its internationalization was developed. The results allowed to trace the evolution of the internationalization process of such enterprises, identifying steps, important events and factors that determined the recognition of the key opportunities in the international market, being confronted with the literature on the subject.

[pt] A partir da década de 1990 registra-se crescente interesse no estudo de empresas que apresentam processo de internacionalização rápido e precoce, conhecidas na literatura como Born Globals. O presente estudo investigou o processo de internacionalização de duas Born Globals brasileiras de pequeno porte que atuam no desenvolvimento de jogos eletrônicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender as motivações, os processos de internacionalização, os fatores que influenciaram negativamente e positivamente a expansão internacional dessas empresas e as estratégias adotadas para se manterem no mercado internacional, sob o enfoque das principais teorias propostas pela literatura. O estudo foi de natureza qualitativa, utilizando-se o método de estudo de caso. Foram realizadas entrevistas com os principais executivos que atuam na área internacional dessas empresas e levantados dados secundários sobre as mesmas. Paralelamente, foi desenvolvida uma análise do setor de jogos eletrônicos e de sua internacionalização. Por fim, foi possível traçar a evolução do processo de internacionalização das empresas, identificando etapas e eventos importantes, assim como as razões que determinaram as principais ações das empresas, confrontando-se tais resultados com a literatura sobre o tema. / [en] Since the 1990s there has been increasing interest in the study of companies that go through rapid and early internationalization processes. The literature refers to these firms as Born Globals. This study examines the internationalization processes of two small Brazilian Born Globals in the video game development industry, from the standpoint of the main theories present in the literature. The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of these firms motivations, their internationalization processes, the factors that positively and negatively influenced their international expansion, and the strategies they adopted to survive in the international market, The study is qualitative and employs the case study method. Primary data was gathered through interviews conducted with key executives who work in the international area of the two companies being studied. The study also made use of secondary data from. Parallel to the development of the case, an analysis of the video game industry and its internationalization was developed. Hence, the information gathered made it possible to trace the evolution of the internationalization processes of both companies, identifying important steps and events, as well as getting further insight into the reasons that behind some of the major corporate actions. Finally, these results were confronted with the extant.

Digital services have immeasurably transformed the world economy, and so people’s lives, over the past two decades. One industry where digitalization has been slower is the financial services. Nevertheless, this has changed in the past years with the emergence of fintech companies disrupting the traditional banks and payment solutions. Several studies have researched the internationalization process of digital born globals across different industries. However, due to how recent and emerging the fintech industry is, the area is understudied. To gain insight on the internationalization process of digital born globals within the fintech industry this study was based on an empirical multiple-case study including 4 fintech companies from Sweden and Finland. The main finding of this study is that fintech firms do not expand like other digital born globals but instead follow a more traditional, incremental internationalization process. We also observed that fintech companies used an online entry strategy initially allowing a fast entry process. In some cases, they also established offline presence. Overall, we hope to contribute to theory by giving insight on which factors that cause fintech companies to expand, how the internationalization process looks, how external partnerships might influence, and which challenges they might face.

<p>How is competition affected when market boundaries appears none-existing? Our way of communicating and interact has changed the business landscape and created one, international market accessible to all companies striving for competitive advantage (McDougall et al., 2000). Internationalization is the name of the process where firms cross national boundaries and take part of this international market. There are several theories describing this phenomenon, however one of the first models presented was one by the Swedish researchers Johanson and Vahlne in 1977. The Internationalization Process model, also known as the IP model, explains the internationalization of firms as an incremental process of international involvement where knowledge about foreign markets and market commitment affect the way a company proceed internationally.</p><p>Today’s business landscape has introduced a new kind of companies, a product of our connected world; born global firms are increasing in numbers and described as small, often high technological firms aiming for the international market right after establishing. As the authors of this master thesis we found it interesting that a model such as the internationalization model is still used, discussed and referred to. How can a model deriving from the 1970´s still have such importance in today’s changed world? Is it even applicable for this new business arena that the born global firms constitute?</p><p>Our research question has been as follows;</p><p>How does Johanson and Vahlne’s internationalization process model work in practice for born global firms?</p><p>The way we have analysed our findings is according to our purpose of the study; to define a born global company according to existing theories, examine its relation to the internationalization process model and create a more dynamic version of Johanson and Vahlne’s model.</p><p>The research process has been carried out as a qualitative study where we have made a deep study of a small, high technological company in Umeå called Seaflex. We have also included an interview with the Swedish Trade Council to support and broaden our empirical findings. Since our aim is to draw conclusions about an existing theory, we have undertaken a deductive approach in our research.</p><p>After conducting our research we have in our analysis defined Seaflex as a born global company, examined its relation to internationalization and then, in specific to Johanson & Vahlne’s internationalization process model. Finally in our conclusions we present a new internationalization process model focused on born global firms. Our findings are that when born global firms go international, the knowledge needed can be mainly obtained through the development of relationships with partners and new opportunities are discovered through the deliberate use of networks.</p><p>Due to the fact that our research involves solely one company, we are aware of its limited generalization. Therefore, our main suggestion for further research is to examine our suggested model however with a much broader perspective taking several born global firms perspectives into account.</p>

<p>Background: The Uppsala and Network Models of Internationalization belong to the Nordic School and were created based on Swedish companies. Is that possible to apply these models to a Brazilian context? Brazilian companies are becoming more international and expanding to foreign markets, and this study is going to exam if the Nordic schools models can be used to explain the internationalization process of a Brazilian company. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to exam if the proposition, that states that the Uppsala and the Network Models combined can explain the internationalization process of a Brazilian company, is correct. </p><p>Method: To collect material for this thesis an interview with the case company was done and also secondary data was used from the company. </p><p>Results: It is possible to state that the combination of the two models is able to explain the internationalization process of the studies Brazilian company. It is also possible to state that where the Uppsala Models lacks explanation value, the Network Model can be applied.</p>

<p>Background: In recent years globalisation has become the recipe for companies to enter foreign market in order to increase sales. Today internationalisation strategy is not limited to large firms as small and medium size firms have taken the challenge to explore international market in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. In this thesis, I and my co-author intend to investigate the internationalisation process of two Swedish firms, Vaderstad AB and ContextVision AB.</p><p>Purpose: Our aim is to develop a model to provide a solid explanation of today’s Internationalization process. The model will be generated on the basis of studying three models, and the two Swedish firms’ Internationalization process. The model will also be inspired by Luostarinen&Welch (1988 in Kosonen, 1991) dimensions of internationalisation. We aim to suggest this model to firms which intend to begin internationalization process. </p><p>Result: Two Swedish firms in our thesis conduct different internationalization strategies when they go to international market. Based on the empirical evidence and previous researches it is possible to develop a new model that can provide a holistic view of a firm internationalisation process</p>

<p>This thesis is an effort to analyze the importance of business network partners for successful participation in trade shows for small firms to grow more in international markets. This study would be helpful to demonstrate the value of trade shows. Trade shows provide the opportunities to introduce new products, expand network connection, and enhancing firm’s corporate image. To participate in any trade show may be a very lucrative process, but there are many challenges and tasks which are to be met to get the maximum share of international market. </p><p>To analyse the effectiveness of business network for successful participation in trade shows, I have included one case study of trade shows, named Beauty World 2009, held at Frankfurt Germany. In this show, among the firms from all over the world, 16 small companies manufacturing beauty instruments, companies from my home city, namely Sialkot, Pakistan, also participated. Their experiences, participation, views and observation will also be used to analyze the importance of trade show for creating new business networks through this show.</p><p>This research indicates the effectiveness of network member providing support to small and growing firms for successful participation in trade shows. With the help of these network members, trade shows can be used as exclusive platforms to introduce new firms, as well as products, to potential consumers. In general, we can indicate that existing network partners, if mobilized accordingly, have the ability to reduce the overall cost incurred at trade shows.</p>

<p>Aim: After discussing marketing issues with representatives from a number of companies established on the Chinese market, we came to the conclusion that it would be interesting and useful to further investigate relationship marketing models from a Swedish perspective when doing business in China.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the study is to highlight, by examples and experiences from firms dealing with or on the Chinese market, what makes up successful marketing between Swedish and Chinese businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Research question: Is relationship marketing with a dash of guanxi the recipe of success for Sino-Swedish businesses?</p><p> </p><p>The result of successful relationship marketing is a marketing network and it is an important asset for companies today. Competition is not between single business units or entities any more but between marketing networks (Kotler et al., 2006).</p><p> </p><p>To get a full view of relationship marketing between Sweden and China, we have also studied the Chinese culture context.</p><p> </p><p>Method: We interviewed 10 firms in various industries. Common for all respondents is an extensive experience of over 5 years of doing business in China. A questionnaire was used as a foundation for the interviews.</p><p> </p><p>In the analysis findings regarding how the respondents have handled their internationalization process are highlighted. Also how they handle the relationship marketing on a market, where guanxi have been a dominating way of doing business.</p><p> </p><p>Result and conclusions: Relationship marketing with a dash of guanxi is the road that most companies take already today and should take if not yet doing so. As we can see from the study, China is not under as strong influence of <em>guanxi</em> as it used to be. Our respondents offer insights and examples of that Chinese businessmen and women are adapting a more global approach to business negotiations. Operating on the Chinese market requires a relationship marketing approach although it is more personalized to better suit the Chinese culture context.</p><p> </p><p>Suggestions for future research:</p><p>* Relationship marketing in China and corruption: how is it handled, avoided, viewed.</p><p>* Relationship marketing in Sweden by Chinese firms: How can Chinese firms succeed on the Swedish market?</p><p>* Deeper research into relationship marketing strategies for Swedish companies in China.</p><p>* Study Swedish firms on the Chinese market today and how they experience the paradoxes mentioned by Fang and Faure (2008).</p><p> </p><p>Contribution of the research: The study offers insights in the actual marketing strategy implementation and how firms with extensive experience from China and the Chinese market approach it.</p>