The world has grown increasingly globalized and competitive which has made it crucial for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to look beyond their native market in order to thrive. Although internationalization is considered somewhat uncertain in the face of corporate unfamiliar environments, non-internationalization in a globalized economy can be an even more risky task because it can cause the company to lose competitiveness. The business environment of the world is changing from time to time and in recent times there have been several market turbulences. Market turbulence increases the ambiguity and risk of a company's business process, and it is important to maintain a link between corporate strategies and changes in the environment due to turbulence. The main purpose of conducting this study is to examine the internationalization process of SMEs operating in Sri Lanka and Sweden and the impact of recent market turbulence on those enterprises. The study will also discuss how those businesses have sought to manage these turbulent situations. This study, which aims to learn through multiple cases, focuses primarily on Sri Lankan and Swedish businesses engaged in the manufacturing sector. The study's theoretical framework is structured in such a way that it incorporates the theories contained in the internationalization process theory and the market turbulence. The theories applied to the study in the analysis of empirical findings are compared and the analysis and conclusion are made as a result of the study. The study concludes by comparing the recent market turbulence experienced by the Swedish and Sri Lankan SMEs. The study identified that this turbulence had a major impact on SMEs operating in Sri Lanka. Further, It was identified that these market turbulences have had a severe impact on the supply chains of both countries, mainly as a factor common to both markets.

This diploma thesis focuses on Austrian foreign direct investments and more specifically on the internalization of Austrian companies into the Czech Republic. The aim is to thoroughly display the Austria's outward foreign direct investments, introduce the internationalization models and apply them in an analysis of Austrian companies present in the Czech Republic. The first step towards answering research questions is the presentation of a short theoretical background on foreign direct investment. Further, the main characteristics of Austrian investments are stated. Chapter two starts with term definitions. Thereby, a common under-standing of the most relevant terms is established. The thorough literature review illuminates the theories behind each model and its development. In the following step, the practical part of the paper is introduced. At first, assumptions from the internationalization models are derived. Afterwards, these assumptions serve as a foundation for the questionnaire's framework. The primary part of this chapter displays results of the empirical study. Finally, a conclusion is presented summing up the thesis's core findings. These findings are primarily direct answers to the research questions seeking to fulfill the main objective of the diploma thesis.

This research study concerns entrepreneurial startups that converted into internationalization by implementing an export business strategy. MASApparel and Dilma Tea companies in Sri Lanka, two leading companies, were selected to illustrate the export strategy for business expansion in foreign markets. The research focuses on how both companies achieved their foreign markets and their continuous successful presence in the industry even now by doing. The study begins with a comprehensive discussion of the theory of competitive advantage, business strategy, and entrepreneurial internationalization. The terms examine both conventional and contemporary views of business strategies implemented to gain a competitive advantage to expand in the international market. A review of the basic concepts of entrepreneurship and internationalization proceeds with a detailed review of the literature on the competitive advantage of the business strategy. Various local and global influences are identified in the export strategy for the internationalization process. The selected two case's findings are presented, and the evidence is based on considering implementing an export business strategy for business internationalization.

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate how Start-Ups from Switzerland pattern their expansion to foreign markets and how prevalent traditional internationalization models are among Start-Ups. In order to conduct the research, the term Start-Up has been defined in comparison to other forms of enterprises. The first part of the literature review has been conducted regarding key concepts within the field of international business such as psychic distance or the choice of the right entry mode. The second part of the literature review has been conducted regarding relevant traditional internationalization theories as well as the international entrepreneurship theory, as counterpart to traditional internationalization theories. The theories have resulted in a conceptual framework that reveals the relations between the different theories. The thesis is built on a qualitative approach on the basis of a multiple case study by means of three interviews with Swiss Start-Ups. Further the thesis has followed a deductive approach to first build a profound knowledge about the internationalization process of Start-Ups. The authors of this thesis consider a good pre understanding of the research area as relevant to observe a pattern from the empirical observations. In the analysis chapter the differences and similarities between the theory and the empirical findings were discussed. The structure of both chapters, empirical findings and analysis, are structured in accordance with the conceptual framework. On the basis of the analysis, the conclusion chapter presents the responses of three research questions. Further the final chapter consists of theoretical and practical implications and recommendations as well as limitations and ends with proposals for a further research.

El ámbito de trabajo de la presente tesis se centra en el análisis del resultado exportador de las pequeñas y medianas empresas -en un territorio concreto- desde una perspectiva empresarial y tratando de integrar un modelo que recoja los principales aspectos destacados por la literatura como factores de competitividad.Inicialmente se ha efectuado una revisión de las diferentes teorías sobre la internacionalización empresarial, así como las proposiciones metodológicas y conclusiones de los estudios empíricos más trascendentales que se han publicado en los últimos años. En este sentido, lo anterior ha sido el fundamento para el posterior desarrollo de un marco de trabajo teórico que tuviera en cuenta los principales factores que afectan dicho cometido. El esquema teórico que se presenta, relaciona el desempeño exportador con los principales factores identificados.A continuación, se formulan las hipótesis a partir de dichos factores y las preguntas que sugiere la investigación. Inmediatamente se muestra el ámbito del estudio y los criterios de selección de las empresas y la muestra resultante del trabajo de campo. La muestra utilizada se ha compuesto de 164 empresas (extraídas de una población de 640). Finalmente, se ha explicado, de manera resumida, los métodos y las técnicas de análisis de los datos utilizados en la presente investigación.En una primera parte empírica del estudio se presenta un análisis descriptivo de la información que se propuso investigar sobre cómo es la empresa exportadora.Después, en una segunda, igualmente empírica, se realiza un análisis comparativo entre aquellas empresas con mayor éxito exportador (con una intensidad exportadora superior a la media) y aquellas otras empresas con resultados exteriores más reducidos.Finalmente, en la tercera parte, se presenta un análisis sobre cuáles de las variables utilizadas anteriormente producen un efecto positivo sobre la intensidad exportadora de las empresas. En este sentido, se utiliza como principal herramienta estadística para el estudio de la información el análisis de regresión lineal -complementado con el análisis factorial- para ver qué efecto tienen las mencionadas variables sobre la intensidad exportadora.El estudio acaba definiendo aquellas áreas en las que pueden mejorar las empresas, así como unas futuras líneas de investigación propuestas. / L' àmbit de treball de la present tesi es centra en l' anàlisi del resultat exportador de les petites i mitjanes empreses -en un territori concret- des d' una perspectiva empresarial i tracte d'integrar un model que reculli els principals aspectes destacats per la literatura com factors de competitivitat.Inicialment s'efectua una revisió de les diferents teories sobre l' internacionalització empresarial, així com les proposicions metodològiques i conclusions dels estudis empírics més transcendentals que s' han publicat en els darrers anys. En aquest sentit, l'anterior ha estat el fonament per al posterior desenvolupament d' un marc de treball teòric que ha tingut en compte els principals factors que afecten aquesta comesa. L'esquema teòric que es presenta, relaciona el desenvolupament exportador amb els principals factors identificats.A continuació, es formulen les hipòtesis a partir dels esmentats factors i les preguntes que suggereix l' investigació. Immediatament es mostra l' àmbit de l' estudi i els criteris de selecció de les empreses i la mostra resultant del treball de camp. La mostra utilitzada està composada per 164 empreses (extretes d' una població de 640). Finalment, s'explica, de manera resumida, els mètodes i les tècniques d' anàlisi de les dades utilitzades en la present investigació.En una primera part empírica de l' estudi es presenta un anàlisi descriptiu de la informació que es va proposar investigar sobre com és la empresa exportadora.Després, en una segona part, igualment empírica, es realitza un anàlisi comparatiu entre aquelles empreses amb major èxit exportador (amb una intensitat exportadorasuperior a la mitjana) i aquelles altres empreses amb resultats exteriors més reduïts.Finalment, en la tercera part, es presenta un anàlisi sobre quines de les variables utilitzades anteriorment produeixen un efecte positiu sobre l' intensitat exportadora de les empreses. En aquest sentit, s' utilitza com principal estri estadístic per l' estudi de a' informació l' anàlisis de regressió lineal -complementat amb l' anàlisi factorial- per veure quin efecte tenen les esmentades variables sobre l' intensitat exportadora.L' estudi finalitza definint aquelles àrees en les que pot millorar les empreses, així com unes futures línies d' investigació proposades. / This thesis concerns the analysis of the export performance of small and medium enterprises (sme's) in a specific geographic area, from an enterprise perspective and trying to build a model according to the most important items mentioned by literature as a competive factors.Initially, a review of different internationalization theories was made, as well as of methodological propositions and of conclusions of empirical researches published in the last years. In this sense, the first was the base for the further development of a framework for a theorical work that consider the main factors. This theoretical outline relates exporting results with the main factors identified.After that, hypothesis are formulated from those factors and questions that the research suggests. Immediately, the research field was shown along with the enterprise selection criteria and the resulting sample. The sample was composed by 164 companies (from a total of 640). Finally, there is a brief explanation of methods and data analysis techniques used in this research.In the first empirical part of this study there is a descriptive analysis of the information proposed for the research about how the exporting company is.After that, in the second empirical part as well, there is a comparative analysis between the most exporting successfully companies (with an exporting intensity over the media) and those other companies with lower results.Finally, in the third part, there is an analysis about the variables utilized before and their effect on the exporting intensity of the company. In this sense, the main statisticaltool used for the data processing was the linear regression, complemented with factorial analysis to see effect of the mentioned variables on the exporting intensity.The research finishes defining areas where companies can improve, and also, mentioning future researching lines proposed.

L'objectif de la recherche est de questionner le comportement des firmes multinationales issues de pays émergent (FMNE) lors de leur première acquisition majoritaire à l'international. En effet, devenue un phénomène d'ampleur mondial, l'internationalisation de ces firmes du Sud représente une nouveauté, une menace, mais également une opportunité dans le paysage économique mondial. Notre étude teste empiriquement les théories classiques du management international pensées pour les firmes du Nord (FMN) selon des méthodes quantitatives appliquées à un échantillon unique de 504 FMNE issues de la base de données SDC Platinum. Les résultats montrent qu'il existe trois catégories de FMNE influencées par les attributs du pays cibles, leur expérience d'acquisition internationale et leur réseau d'affaires étendu. En revanche, ces mêmes entreprises ne sont influencées ni par les attributs de leur pays domestique ni par leur expérience d'acquisition domestique ni par leur réseau d'affaires proche. Ces résultats éclairent ainsi les connaissances du champ des FMNE en confirmant certaines études dans la littérature tout en en contredisant d'autres. Ce travail de recherche précise donc un ensemble de connaissances scientifiques relatives au phénomène des FMNE et cristallise les réponses aux questionnements du champ à travers l'étude empirique des acquisitions majoritaires à l'international. / The research aims to investigate the emerging multinationals' (EMNE) behaviour through their first international acquisition. Indeed, because of the scope and scale of this international phenomenon, the internationalization of these firms portrayed a novelty, a threat, and an opportunity in the worldwide landscape as well. Our study tests empirically the international management theories basically thought for firms from industrialized economies (MNE) according to quantitative methodologies applied on a unique sample of 504 EMNE from SDC platinum database. The results find three EMNE groups influenced by target-country characteristics, international acquisition experience and extensive network. However, these same firms are not influenced by domestic-country characteristics, their domestic acquisition experience and their close network. These results highlight the field both in corroborate some studies and refute others. This research finally clarifies a set of scientific knowledge related to the EMNE phenomenon through an empirical study of the international acquisitions.

The following three articles in this dissertation challenge the current rationale of internationalization and makes the case for anew approach to internationalization within U.S. higher education. My first article delves deep into the rationale of internationalization in U.S. higher education over the years by way of U.S. study abroad. This analysis identifies and evaluates the multiple cause-and –effect relationships in a historical context in order to understand the origins that led to the expansion of internationalization efforts within U.S. higher education. My second article explores Mansilla and Gardner’s global consciousness framework as a viable solution to the issues that are currently plaguing internationalization efforts in U.S. higher education. I contend that the global consciousness framework provides an alternative approach to internationalization that is rooted in mindfulness rather than competiveness. Finally, my third article evaluates the impact of this proposed solution by examining how Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine students within the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine view their roles and careers in society after engaging with the global consciousness framework. Overall, these articles take a critical lens to our approach in preparing students for the global era.

There has been prior research on the internationalization process of retail firms. However, most of the research has investigated the developed countries' markets. There has been little research on the internationalization process of retail firms, especially in the emerging Asian markets. The emerging Asian markets are different from developed markets. Therefore, internationalization challenges and hindrances are dissimilar in this region than in developed countries' markets. Previously, there have been numerous researches on IKEA and other Swedish retail firms on the internationalization process. However, most of the research study has been done on its movement to developed markets. There has been little research done on IKEA's internationalization into emerging Asian markets. There are different challenges faced by firms, when entering into the emerging Asian market and during the business in these markets. However, the emerging Asian markets are different from other continents, especially the Western and developed markets. This research study aims to fill the existing knowledge gap by exploring the challenges that IKEA faces in emerging Asian markets. In addition to this, by the research, we seek to develop our understanding of the challenges faced by Swedish retail firms while entering emerging Asian markets. Furthermore, by exploring the challenges that retail firms face in the emerging Asian markets, we also aim to provide possible solutions on how IKEA and other retail firms can resolve or tackle the issues they face in emerging Asian markets.