The effects of entrepreneurial proclivity and foreign market knowledge on early internationalization
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of World Business
Publication Date
9-1-2007
Volume
42
Issue
3
First Page
281
Last Page
293
Keywords
Born global, Early internationalization, Entrepreneurial proclivity, Foreign market knowledge, International entrepreneurship
Abstract
Recent international entrepreneurship literature suggests an apparent tension in regard to the role of foreign market knowledge between the process models of internationalization and the early internationalization of born-global firms. From an entrepreneurial learning perspective, we argue that the tension can be resolved by understanding the source of the knowledge. For early internationalizing firms, foreign market knowledge tends to emanate from the innovative and proactive pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities across national borders, rather than from incremental accumulation of experience in foreign markets. Using survey data from young international entrepreneurial firms in mainland China, we test and support a mediating mechanism of foreign market knowledge as it relates to the pace and performance of early internationalization. This study contributes to the theoretical development in the emergent field of international entrepreneurship.
DOI
10.1016/j.jwb.2007.04.009
Print ISSN
10909516
Funding Information
Financial support provided by the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (LU3107/03H). {LU3107/03H}
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Zhou, L. (2007). The effects of entrepreneurial proclivity and foreign market knowledge on early internationalization. Journal of World Business, 42(3), 281-293. doi: 10.1016/j.jwb.2007.04.009