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.

Digital competence used to be a confusing concept, until recently when some researchers coined a comprehensive definition of digital competence and formulated a conceptual framework in an SME context. However, the framework was only at a conceptual level and required to be tested with the empirics of a qualitative or quantitative study. By an abductive qualitative approach, this research explored existing theories on digital competence and formulated a new digital competence framework in Swedish manufacturing SME perspective. Moreover, with cross-sectional study design, this research explored the role of digital competence in the internationalization process of six Swedish manufacturing firms, which is unprecedented in academic literature. Our findings indicate that digital competence is an evolving concept which develops gradually with technological advancements and requires a combination of three integral components: i) Digital technologies (basic and advanced level digitalization), ii) Automation of organizational processes, iii) Human resources who have the latest digital skills and are duly motivated to use these skills. This research affirms that after attaining digital competence Swedish manufacturing SMEs can sustain a competitive advantage in their international markets and it successfully facilitates in the firm’s internationalization process. / Digital kompetens brukade vara ett förvirrande koncept fram till nyligen när vissa forskare utarbetade en omfattande definition av digital kompetens och formulerade en konceptuell ram i ett små och medelstora sammanhang. Ramverket var dock endast på en konceptuell nivå och krävdes att testas med empiriken i en kvalitativ eller kvantitativ studie. Genom ett abduktivt kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt undersökte denna forskning befintliga teorier om digital kompetens och formulerade en ny digital kompetensram inom svenskt tillverkningspolitiskt perspektiv. Vidare undersökte denna undersökning rollen som digital kompetens i internationaliseringsprocessen av sex svenska tillverkningsföretag, vilket är enastående i den akademiska litteraturen. Våra resultat tyder på att digital kompetens är ett utvecklande koncept som utvecklas gradvis med tekniska framsteg och kräver en kombination av tre integrerade komponenter: i) Digital teknik (grundläggande och avancerad digitalisering), ii) Automatisering av organisationsprocesser, iii) Personal som har de senaste digitala färdigheterna och är vederbörligen motiverade att använda dessa färdigheter. Den här forskningen bekräftar att svenska tillverkare små och medelstora företag efter att ha uppnått digital kompetens kan upprätthålla en konkurrensfördel på sina internationella marknader och framgångsrikt underlättar företagets internationaliseringsprocess.

Cette thèse porte sur le rôle des capacités dynamiques dans le processus d’internationalisation des entreprises chinoises depuis l’entrée de la Chine dans l’Organisation mondiale du commerce en 2001 alors que ces entreprises ne disposaient pas d’avantages concurrentiels préalables clairs par rapport à leurs concurrents occidentaux. L’étude de trois multinationales chinoises – Haier Group, Huawei Technologies et TCL Corporation – est menée dans le cadre théorique des capacités dynamiques (Dynamic Capability View - DCV). Elle vise à identifier la nature et les fondations des capacités dynamiques développées par ces entreprises au cours de leur processus d’internationalisation. Ce processus est caractérisé par la combinaison d'un investissement très significatif en innovation technologique et d’une internationalisation accélérée contribuant conjointement à la création d’un avantage concurrentiel durable. Ces deux dimensions de la stratégie des entreprises bénéficient d'un fort soutien du gouvernement chinois. / This thesis focuses on the role of dynamic capabilities in the internationalization process of Chinese corporations since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, even though these companies did not have a clear prior competitive advantage over their Western competitors. The study of three Chinese multinational enterprises – the Haier Group, Huawei Technologies and TCL Corporation – is conducted in the framework of the Dynamic-Capability View (DCV). It aims at identifying the nature and the foundations of the dynamic capabilities developed by these corporations during the internationalization process.This process is characterized by the combination of a significant investment in technological innovation and an accelerated internationalization, jointly contributing to creating and sustaining of competitive advantage. These two elements of the corporate strategies benefit from the strong support of the Chinese government.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:51:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 145223.pdf.jpg: 16843 bytes, checksum: 216c21cdf184c9a6b45b5950edfdc082 (MD5) 145223.pdf: 915572 bytes, checksum: 0fc450607544c4b6126f1847c19d1c84 (MD5) 145223.pdf.txt: 224142 bytes, checksum: 451c52926486aef6d451bc7fbb54e232 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-06-29T00:00:00Z / The process of globalization of markets has inserted small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) into the international competitive environment, previously almost totally restricted to big companies. However, the way Brazilian SMEs get involved with international markets is still poorly known, due to the small volume of empirical research done on this topic. The present study reports on, and discusses, central characteristics of the process of international expansion of Brazilian SMEs. The analysis centers on critical factors that characterize this process, in particular on strategic decisions made, on the main problems faced, and on the practices adopted by entrepreneurs or managers of the companies that seek the international market. To investigate these aspects, a questionnaire was sent by mail and electronic means to 226 Brazilian SMEs with some degree of internationalization, and 52 companies returned usable filled questionnaires. Analysis of the collected data points to a set of important effects in the sample: (1) the influence of the firm’s network of relationships on its internationalization process; (2) the lack of a single theory capable of explaining all aspects of the internationalization process; and (3) a paradigmatic shift, in recent years, of the companies’ profile and behavior as compared with Brazilian SMEs investigated in the early national studies of the topic. In particular, the companies in the present sample show more proactivity and international vision. / O processo de globalização dos mercados inseriu as pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) no ambiente competitivo internacional, antes quase inteiramente restrito às grandes empresas. No entanto, o modo como as PMEs brasileiras se envolvem com o mercado internacional é ainda pouco conhecido, devido ao pequeno número de pesquisas empíricas realizadas neste campo. O presente estudo relata e discute características centrais do processo de expansão internacional das PMEs brasileiras. A análise concentra-se nos fatores críticos que caracterizam esse processo, particularmente nas decisões estratégicas tomadas, nos principais problemas enfrentados e nas práticas utilizadas pelos empreendedores ou dirigentes das empresas que buscam o mercado internacional. Para a investigação desses aspectos, um questionário foi enviado por via postal e por meio eletrônico para 226 PMEs brasileiras com algum grau de internacionalização. Destas, 52 empresas devolveram questionários aproveitáveis para a pesquisa. A análise dos dados obtidos nos questionários aponta um conjunto importante de efeitos na amostra: (1) a influência da rede de relacionamentos da empresa no seu processo de internacionalização; (2) a inexistência de uma única teoria capaz de explicar a totalidade do processo de internacionalização; e (3) uma transformação paradigmática, em anos recentes, do perfil e do comportamento dessas empresas, em comparação com as PMEs exportadoras brasileiras pesquisadas nos primeiros estudos nacionais sobre o tema. Em particular, as empresas da amostra atual demonstram mais pró-atividade e visão internacional.

Cette thèse porte sur le rôle des capacités dynamiques dans le processus d’internationalisation des entreprises chinoises depuis l’entrée de la Chine dans l’Organisation mondiale du commerce en 2001 alors que ces entreprises ne disposaient pas d’avantages concurrentiels préalables clairs par rapport à leurs concurrents occidentaux. L’étude de trois multinationales chinoises – Haier Group, Huawei Technologies et TCL Corporation – est menée dans le cadre théorique des capacités dynamiques (Dynamic Capability View - DCV). Elle vise à identifier la nature et les fondations des capacités dynamiques développées par ces entreprises au cours de leur processus d’internationalisation. Ce processus est caractérisé par la combinaison d'un investissement très significatif en innovation technologique et d’une internationalisation accélérée contribuant conjointement à la création d’un avantage concurrentiel durable. Ces deux dimensions de la stratégie des entreprises bénéficient d'un fort soutien du gouvernement chinois. / This thesis focuses on the role of dynamic capabilities in the internationalization process of Chinese corporations since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, even though these companies did not have a clear prior competitive advantage over their Western competitors. The study of three Chinese multinational enterprises – the Haier Group, Huawei Technologies and TCL Corporation – is conducted in the framework of the Dynamic-Capability View (DCV). It aims at identifying the nature and the foundations of the dynamic capabilities developed by these corporations during the internationalization process.This process is characterized by the combination of a significant investment in technological innovation and an accelerated internationalization, jointly contributing to creating and sustaining of competitive advantage. These two elements of the corporate strategies benefit from the strong support of the Chinese government.

Extant research concludes that SMEs tend to be highly dependent on the local institutional environment when internationalizing. In relation to that, international business literature accentuates the lack of studies that aim to understand how government support influences SMEs' international business performance. This further justifies the current inquiry for conducting more diverse scientific research in order to better describe and evaluate how governments should apply and effectively utilize their support toward internationalizing SMEs. Based on that, the aim of this study was to first identify the approaches that Kalmar based SMEs undertake to internationalize. Second, to identify the current initiatives implemented by the local governmental agencies toward the internationalization of these firms. Third, to identify how the governmental agencies in Kalmar could potentially improve the internationalization support towards the local SMEs. By fulfilling these aims this study was able to answer the overarching research question of How could the Swedish governmental agencies better contribute to the development of the internationalization process of their SMEs at the regional level? International business literature, internationalization process theories in combination with the available knowledge concerning the local institutional environment were utilized to conduct a thorough theoretical base for this study. The theoretical base laid the foundation for the constructed conceptual framework that was later utilized to collect and analyze data derived from five local SMEs and four key governmental agencies. This research project implemented a qualitative methodology and a multiple case study design. The data were collected through ten semi structured interviews. As an outcome, the findings of this study concludes that the identified prevailing internationalization process traits in combination with the uncovered improvement elements for governmental internationalization support, positively influence the configuration between the SMEs internationalization and the local institutional environment. This further contributes to achieving understanding concerning how Swedish regions could foster the internationalization process of their SMEs. Finally, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to address the issue of governmental endeavors toward the internationalization process of Swedish SMEs.