The notion of International New Ventures, or INVs, emerged in academia in the early-to-mid 1990s and generally refers to entrepreneurial firms that tend to internationalize very early in their life-cycle, and whose expansion into foreign markets occurs much more quickly than predicted by earlier theories of the incremental internationalization process. Previous literature proposes effective networking with market partners and, more recently, internationally viable business model among key distinguishing features of INVs that allow for such early and rapid entry into international markets. Nevertheless, little is yet known regarding how these younger firms develop over time and how they could sustain international growth. With the purpose of filling this gap, this doctoral dissertation scrutinizes business models and business model innovation of INVs beyond their early internationalization, with a particular emphasis on INVs’ external relationships configurations.   The dissertation consists of four self-contained essays that represent a methodological mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches and incorporate longitudinal case studies, surveys and register-based data encompassing nine years of Swedish INVs’ development. The findings highlight the importance of the business model as an initial market entry tool, and of business model innovation as a potential growth vehicle over time. Findings also display that INVs work with a broader range of external partners compared to other firms for innovative purposes, and that INVs have different business model innovation patterns compared to other types of internationalized firms. Moreover, INVs focus more heavily on value capture innovations in their business models as they mature and seek to obtain a more centralized position in their industry ecosystem by re-configuring the parameters of existing external relationships or developing new ones.   Overall, this dissertation contributes to the international entrepreneurship and business model literature by explicating how maturing INVs need to operate under different business model configurations as compared to emerging INVs, as the original business model might lack scalability after a certain point in time. Furthermore, the dissertation suggests how INVs can pursue a dynamic business model approach and utilize dynamic capabilities to design business models that put the focal firm more in control of the surrounding ecosystem, and reduce constraints that can limit the value capturing potential and thus the growth and development of INVs.

The positive relationship of firm-level entrepreneurship and performance has received much attention in recent years and has become an attractive title in the entrepreneurship literature. This popularity encourages researchers to study the role played by the phenomenon on other organizational outputs such as internationalization. Until now, the majority of international studies have put their attention on the conceptual explanation of the interaction, and the number of empirical studies on the subject is few. Furthermore, almost all the empirical studies have been performed in developed and emerging markets, and developing areas such as the Middle East are nearly ignored. In the real context of Iranian business, policymakers support entrepreneurship as a proven way to improve the internationalization of smaller companies. Following this assumption, several supportive plans have been designed and executed which aim to increase the entrepreneurial status of SMEs as a way to enhance their internationalization. A question worth answering here is: Does having a better entrepreneurial stature mean better internationalization for Iranian SMEs? To answer this question and to fill the gap in the literature on the subject, this research explains the relationship of firm-level entrepreneurship and the internationalization of Iranian SMEs. To resolve the current conceptualization problem of firm-level entrepreneurship and to respect a broad conceptualization of entrepreneurship, a profile measurement model was employed in which companies are classified into four different groups: non-entrepreneurial, forced entrepreneurial, latent entrepreneurial, and actual entrepreneurial. This profile model incorporates the two popular constructs of entrepreneurial orientation and corporate entrepreneurship to determine the entrepreneurial stature of a company. Surprisingly, while the literature predicted the highest level of internationalization for actual entrepreneurial companies, the forced entrepreneurial firms showed the best internationalization in reality. The only exception was when the environments became very hostile, in which the actual entrepreneurial SMEs suppressed the forced entrepreneurial, showing better internationalization. These unexpected conclusions led the researcher to consider the complementary role of business networks. A case study approach was applied. The results revealed the importance of actor type in the decision to enter a foreign market, structural holes in identifying international opportunities, and network closure in realizing the opportunities. In simpler words, the forced entrepreneurial company held a better position to receive the information about international markets because most actors who dealt with them where international companies. In addition, it enjoyed an external network rich of structural holes and a dense internal network, which respectively facilitated the exploration and exploitation of subsequent international opportunities. All in all, however, firm-level entrepreneurship seems an important factor of companies’ internationalization that could somehow justify why entrepreneurial companies show better international activities than nonentrepreneurial firms, it is not able to explain how different types of entrepreneurial companies could hold different levels of internationalization. This is the mutual interaction of entrepreneurial status and the network structure that presents a powerful explanation of the difference in internationalization among companies. Therefore, researchers are invited to focus more on a configurational analysis of firm-level entrepreneurship, network structure, and internationalization, and policymakers are recommended to see both entrepreneurship and business networks when they design a supportive plan to improve the internationalization of SMEs. / <p>In the printed version is the ISBN incorrrect: 978-91-7519-497-4. The ISBN is corrected in the electronic version.</p>

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.

Internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been a considerable concern for international business (IB) scholars. Particularly, for those economies such as Sweden with small local markets, internationalization of SMEs could be fundamental. The firm-specific advantages (FSAs), including what the firm has and does, are crucial for SMEs to overcome in the face of their numerous different obstacles such as liability of smallness (LOS) and liability of foreignness (LOF). Examining the extant literature on the evolution of IB theories indicates that over time, IB scholars have been reaching to dynamic-based FSAs (what the firm does) as the source of developing and protecting sustainable competitive advantages (SCA) across national borders in a changing business environment. The nature of dynamic-based FSAs could be similar to dynamic capabilities. But, when it comes to determining specific component factors  of dynamic-based  FSAs  (as dynamic  capabilities),  there has been little agreement between IB researchers. In other words, the room of the dynamic capabilities is still dark. In this respect, shedding light into this room, particularly in the area of IB studies, is crucial. In addition, after determining the component factors of the dynamic-based FSAs, it is also critical to know the likely relationships between the identified component factors as well as their impact on the SMEs’ international performance (IP) as an important outcome of the internationalization. This means that there is a potential theoretical gap associated with the conceptualization of the component factors of the dynamic-based FSAs on one hand, and a potential empirical gap on the other. Given both theoretical and empirical research gaps, the purpose of this study is to examine, from a theoretical perspective, the nature of the dynamic-based FSA and its related component factors in the IB context, as well as empirically explore how SMEs’ IP is influenced by the identified component factors of the dynamic-based FSAs. To perform this study, first of all, based on lenses of the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability view (DCV), the literature on organizational capability in the context of the IB studies was systematically reviewed to fill the theoretical gap. Consequently, three component factors of dynamic-based FSAs including networking capability (NC) as a relational-based FSA, innovative capability (IC) as an innovative-based FSA and absorptive capacity (ACAP) as a learning-based FSA were identified, all of which are pluripotent and dynamic in nature. Then, a deductive approach was followed to develop several hypotheses and the associated conceptual model. Furthermore, a survey strategy, collecting data from 330 Swedish internationalized manufacturing SMEs, was applied to accomplish the purpose of the study. Then, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) as a quantitative method was used to analyze the collected data. The results of the PLS-SEM analysis show that the SMEs’ international performance (IP) is positively influenced by the three identified component factors, whether directly or indirectly. In this regard, ACAP and NC are the two reliable predictors (directly) of the SMEs’ IP. The results indicate that innovative capability (IC) does not have direct impact on the SMEs’ IP, and that its effect is fully transmitted on IP only by the mediating effect of the networking capability (NC). Further analysis showed that ACAP, as an endogenous latent variable, additionally has a positive indirect association with SMEs’ international performance (IP). Moreover, the results also indicate that innovative capability is directly and positively affected by ACAP (innovating-by-learning effect). It was also empirically revealed that ACAP is a very strong predictor for networking capability, which is labeled as the networking-by-learning effect. Another major finding was that in internationalized SMEs, NC is strongly, directly and positively affected by IC; this effect also is termed as the networking-by-innovating effect. The overall picture resulting from the PLS- SEM analysis indicates that ACAP in internationalized SMEs is a wellspring to develop both innovative capability and networking capability, as well as influence SMEs’ IP. Furthermore, these results suggest that the networking capability is a vital gateway to transmit the effect of the other two component factors on IP and, at the same time, directly influence IP.

In a world shaped by the simultaneous forces of globalization and fragmentation, very few armed conflicts remain isolated from any foreign involvement and confined to the territory of one State. On the contrary, many begin as internal conflicts that gradually acquire international characteristics of varying degree and nature. Yet, the law of armed conflict forces each such conflict into one of two legal categories: it must either be a non-international, or an international armed conflict. Accordingly, the prevailing approach in the literature is to examine what type of conflict, if any, corresponds to a certain situation in reality at a given time. In contrast, this thesis opts for a dynamic approach, focussing on the combination of factors that transform a prima facie non-international armed conflict into an international armed conflict. It argues that four such modalities of internationalization have emerged thus far: (1) outside intervention; (2) State dissolution; (3) wars of national liberation; and (4) relative internationalization by way of recognition of belligerency, unilateral declarations, or special agreements. Since some situations feature more than two conflict parties, the thesis puts forward an autonomy-based interpretive model, which enables to determine whether such situations should be seen as a single internationalized armed conflict or a number of independent international and non-international armed conflicts. On the basis of this comprehensive map of conflict internationalization, the thesis turns to the effects brought about by this process. It analyses two areas of the law of armed conflict considered to be regulated differently in the two respective types of conflict, namely matters of combatant status and belligerent occupation. It argues that fighters belonging to non-State armed groups participating in internationalized armed conflicts are in principle eligible for combatant status and it proposes an interpretive model for the determination whether they in fact meet the relevant criteria in practice. Finally, the thesis argues in favour of the applicability of the law of belligerent occupation to internationalized armed conflicts. To substantiate this claim, it delineates the temporal, geographical, and personal scope of the law of occupation in such conflicts. In its totality, the thesis analyses the meaning, process, and effects of conflict internationalization and on this basis argues for a particular interpretation of the concept of internationalized armed conflict in international law.

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.

Cette recherche propose d'étudier les facteurs qui influencent les responsables de PME dans leur choix d'internationaliser une activité. Partant de la littérature en science de gestion sur la décision, nous mettons en exergue l'influence séminale et néanmoins peu étudiée d'un déterminant de la décision : les Représentations Sociales. En contexte international, nous postulons que les décisions sont guidées par les Représentations Sociales de la mondialisation et de l'internationalisation. Ainsi, nous introduisons un modèle composé des différents déterminants endogènes de la décision d'internationaliser : les traits décisionnels internationaux (Représentations Sociales et attitude vis-à-vis de la mondialisation et de l'internationalisation) et les traits décisionnels classiques (tolérance à l'ambigüité, intuitivité et proactivité). Afin de valider ce modèle, nous adaptons une méthode originale permettant de mesurer les comportements décisionnels en concomitance avec les profils de répondants : la Méthode Des Scénarios. Celle-ci découle sur la conception, le test, et la validation d'un instrument de mesure évaluant les décisions et les profils de répondants. Le terrain est constitué de 33 participants, pour les phases qualitatives, et de 149 responsables de PME françaises, pour la phase quantitative. Nos résultats suggèrent qu'en contexte international les décisions sont guidées par les traits décisionnels internationaux et classiques. Nous montrons également que les traits décisionnels internationaux expliquent davantage la décision d'internationaliser une activité que les traits classiques / This research aims at studying the factors that influence people in charge of SME in their decisions to internationalize an activity. Starting from the literature about the decision in the management field, the authors highlight the seminal influence, though hardly studied, of one determinant of the decision: the Social Representations. In an international environment, the authors assume that Social Representations of globalization and internationalization influence on decision making. Thus, the authors introduce a model composed of the decision to internationalize endogenous determinants: international decision features (Social Representations and attitude towards globalization and internationalization) and classical decision features (tolerance to ambiguity, intuitivity, and proactivity). In order to validate this model, the authors adapt an original method to capture the respondents' decision behavior: The Scenario Method. It leads to design, test and validate a tool which measures decisions and respondents' profiles. The field is composed of 33 participants for the qualitative studies, and 149 top managers of French SME for the quantitative study. The results suggest that in an international context, decisions are both based on international and classical features. The authors show that international decisional features better explain decisions than classical decisions features. Furthermore, Social Representations contribute to better understand the origin of individual's position towards globalization and internationalization: for instance, respondents who are unfavorable to globalization perceive it as a source of threat and competition

This study examines the phenomenon of the usage of e-commerce in relation to firms’ internationalization process. Consequently, the study investigates risks and psychic distance in relation to prior research within International business, Internationalization and e- commerce, while focusing on the latest era of academia, namely “Internetalization”. The study investigates how e-commerce and its tools reduce perceived risks associated with firms’ internationalization process and what challenges Swedish SME’s identify while using e- commerce as a tool for internationalization. The study takes a qualitative, multiple case study approach focusing on Swedish SME’s operating in foreign markets within the retail industry. The findings indicate that e-commerce has the potential to generate international market expansion for Swedish SME’s. Further findings show that e-commerce and its tools are leveraged by Swedish SME’s to source, access and exchange valuable information whilst reducing perceived risk related to internationalization since it gives SME’s access to essential information needed for further expansion. Two main challenges are identified. Firstly, trustworthiness and secondly transforming gathered information into valuable information and knowledge. Consequently, the main challenge identified in the internationalization process of Swedish SME’s, resides in coping with the underlying presence of “psychic distance” or “virtuality trap”.

The existing literature provides a variety of drivers enabling rapid internationalization of born global firms. This explorative study with its inductive approach attempts to analyze to what extent born global theory can be used to understand internationalization in the context of small-sized game development firms. Five interviews of a qualitative nature are used to collect data from founders of firms in this under-researched context. The data collection process is based on an operationalization of concepts based on the three categories of founder, organizational and macro-environmental drivers. The findings show that the firms can be aligned to three different stages of their business development, from subcontracting, to game development, to self-publishing. Subcontractors are not born global, but game developers must develop games with global market potential. These firms are pushed to be international by the heavily globalized nature of their industry and digital nature of both the products and the distribution platforms. Founder and organizational factors do not drive the born global approach as much as the environment, but still play a role in explaining the business of these firms. Overall, the findings of this thesis may provide a guiding point for further research in this specific context of firms acting in an industry with immediate internationalization.

Master of Arts / Department of Modern Languages / Abby Franchitti / With more international students coming to study in the institutions of higher education in the United States, it is essential to examine the infrastructure, support system, and cross-cultural awareness which currently exist within the campus community. Issues regarding internationalization face many institutions on both the micro and macro-level due to numerous variables including the lack of communication between departments, organizations, and offices on campus and an unguided direction of the goals and ambitions behind it. By looking at how the various stakeholders involved in internationalization are affected, possible solutions for academic institutions can be suggested. This report analyzes some of the ways in which the stress and workload often associated with internationalization can be alleviated in order facilitate a community which embraces diversity, and encourages mutual respect in an ever changing global society.