[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 Swedish fashion industry is one of the fastest growing export industries and in recent years the Swedish fashion companies have been praised for their international expansion. For companies with niche products in smaller markets like Sweden internationalization is important but since the industry is constantly changing the internationalization process is quite challenging. Previous studies show that internationalization can be profitable for fashion companies but there is no unified view among researchers as to which way is the right way for the companies to internationalize. Most studies come to the general conclusion that companies seem to follow different paths. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge development of internationalization for small and medium-sized Swedish fashion companies based on established theories of internationalization. A qualitative study has been conducted based on a multiple case study design with 12 participating Swedish fashion companies. The study has a deductive approach since it has its starting point is from a well-established theoretical model: The Business Network Internationalization Process Model which has also worked as a foundation for the study’s analytical model. The analysis is however partly inductive since findings in the result have been fed back into a modified theoretical model, suitable and applicable for Swedish fashion companies’ internationalization processes. In conclusion the findings indicate that there are several important knowledge-bases for the fashion companies that motivate them to start an internationalization process, mainly their design-driven vision of becoming an international brand and the management’s risk-taking business mindset, founded in their entrepreneurial skills and previous knowledge. The result also shows that relationships with different industry actors are of high importance for the companies and in many cases the only way to internationalize. In addition the results show not only that the established theoretical model on internationalization is applicable to Swedish fashion companies but that there also are tendencies that show that the Swedish companies follow a more chronological path in their processes.

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.

Traditionally, Multinational Corporations and the United Nations used to have different agendas. During recent years, there has been a shift, and with the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the objectives of the two different entities are more closely aligned. The United Nations has increasingly promoted multi-stakeholder partnerships as a way to foster development efforts in emerging markets. At the same time, these partnerships have appeared to be a way for businesses to gain legitimacy and overcome the challenges in entering emerging markets. The literature review is based on Johanson and Vahlne’s (1977) Uppsala Model, complemented with Bottom of the Pyramid literature. Specifically, the role of experiential knowledge in the internationalization process is investigated. An exploratory field study has been conducted during one month in Myanmar, with the overarching purpose to study an MNC’s expansion into an EM. The study has further investigated on how MNCs partner with non-traditional actors when entering EMs and how the exchange of knowledge is carried out on the micro-level in these relations. The study includes interviews with both an MNC and the UN, including observations on site and a documentary analysis. In line with previous literature, the result show that the MNC had to learn from the local market in order to succeed in their internationalization process, but also educate the local market in order to enter. Thus, the thesis contributes to research in proving that internationalization in emerging markets seems to be a two-way experiential knowledge direction where MNCs also need to take an active part in educating the emerging market in order to enter.

<p>This Bachelor thesis studies the internationalization strategy of a Finnish label stock company, UPM Raflatac, in China during the late 1990’s. The purpose of this descriptive study is to facilitate the understanding of companies’ internationalization processes. This was done by studying UPM Raflatac’s internationalization strategy’s connection to the internationalization theories of the Uppsala model and the eclectic paradigm. The findings were established by presenting an Internet based questionnaire for the employees of the company. The results showed that the company did not have a country specific strategy and that the resemblance to the reference material was therefore limited.</p>