<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>

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. 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? Our research question has been as follows; How does Johanson and Vahlne’s internationalization process model work in practice for born global firms? 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. 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. 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 &amp; 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. 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.

This thesis examines the internationalization of Finnish contemporary artists. The focus is on their exhibitions at contemporary art institutions in Sweden, covering the period 2004–2013. The aim is to investigate what makes these exhibitions to materialize. The main question is: How do different actors, networks, collaborations, and the field of artistic production look like when art is exported for exhibition purposes from Finland to Sweden? Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory and the Uppsala internationalization process model are used as the theoretical framework. Information is collected via interviews with three Finnish artists and three Swedish curators. The main result is that the artists do not actively impact the internationalization process themselves. Rather, the internationalization occurs through an international network of professionals, some acting on behalf of the artists, and some acting in their own interests. The main driving factor for internationalization is that the Finnish art market is small. Consequently, young contemporary artists are oriented internationally. For internationalization to occur, the artists must be available to foreign curators through the international networks. Finland is aware of this and promotes international art contacts through the foundation Frame Visual Art Finland. Important contact surfaces, where curators can learn about the artists, are art events, like European art biennials.

Sedan 1980-talet har avregleringen av den finansiella sektorn öppnat nya vägar för svenska bankers internationalisering. Detta har inneburit att de svenska storbankerna i allt större utsträckning blickat utanför Sveriges gränser. Men processen att etablera sig på en ny marknad utomlands är inte riskfri. Skillnader mellan länder samt företagens begränsade kunskap, skapar osäkerhet och hinder att förstå nya marknader. Kina är ett exempel på en marknad som till följd av stark ekonomisk utveckling och successiv avreglering lockat många svenska företag, trots att marknaden anses komplex och förknippas med hög risk. Denna undersökning avser att studera detta fenomen närmare genom att beskriva hur SEB:s internationaliseringsprocess i Kina gått till och därigenom belysa bankens riskhantering och incitament att vara etablerad i landet. En kvalitativ metod har genomförts och data har baserats på både primärkällor och sekundärkällor. Resultaten indikerar att SEB:s drivkraft att verka på den kinesiska marknaden är att följa sina kunder. Genom en stegvis etablering har erfarenhet och ny kunskap erhållits som minskat osäkerhet och därmed risk. Ju mer kunskapen har ökat, desto mer har engagemangen i landet vuxit. / Since the 1980s, deregulation of the financial sector has opened new ways for the internationalization of Swedish banks. As a result, the Swedish banks increasingly look beyond the nation's borders. But the process of establishment on a new market abroad is not without risk. Differences between countries and companies limited knowledge creates uncertainty and barriers in understanding new markets. China is an example of a market that, as a result of strong economic development and gradual deregulation, attracted Swedish companies, despite the fact that the market is considered complex and associated with high risk. This study intends to examine this phenomenon closer by describing how SEB's internationalization process in China has proceeded, highlighting the bank's risk management and incentives to be established in the country. A qualitative method has been implemented with data based on both primary sources and secondary sources. The results indicate that SEB's driving force to act on the Chinese market is to follow its customers. Through a gradual establishment, experience and new knowledge has been obtained reducing uncertainty and thus risk. With increasing knowledge follows deeper commitment in the country.