A Model for Understanding SMEs Internationalization in Emerging Economies
Model bagi Memahami Pengantarabangsaan EKS bagi Ekonomi Baru Muncul

Faculty of Economics and Management
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA

zizahcs@ukm.edu.my

UKM-Graduate School of Business
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA

rosmah@ukm.edu.my

Industrial Automation Section
Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute
43650 Bandar Baru Bangi. Selangor, MALAYSIA

ridzuan@unikl.edu.my

Faculty of Economics and Management
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA

abuhanifahayob@ukm.edu.my

Abstract

Understanding the internationalization process of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is imperative for emerging economies to compete globally. Empirical findings of SMEs from emerging countries are still lacking. Thus, this study intends to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive model for the process of SMEs internationalization in Malaysia. Five major internationalization perspectives namely process and stage models, network, born-global and international new ventures, resource-based view, and international entrepreneurship were integrated in formulating a framework for this study. In-depth interviews were carried out with thirty-two Malaysian experts including academics, policy makers, government agencies, chamber of commerce, and research institute. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed manually using thematic coding and frequency counts analysis. Six important factors with distinguished categories and items pertaining to SME internationalization process were identified: 1) triggering factors; 2) internal factors; 3) external factors; 4) networking; 5) barriers and challenges, and 6) operations for internationalization. The main contribution of this study is a generic model of SME internationalization that can provide apertures on researching into SME internationalization in emerging economies.

Keywords

emerging economies; international entrepreneurship; internationalization factors; internationalization process; Malaysia; SMEs internationalization

Citation

Che Senik, Z., Mat Isa, R., Md Sham, M., & Ayob, A. H. (2014). A Model for Understanding SMEs Internationalization in Emerging Economies. Jurnal Pengurusan, 41, 25–42.

@article{senik2014model,
  title={A Model for Understanding SMEs Internationalization in Emerging Economies},
  author={Che Senik, Zizah and Mat Isa, Rosmah and Md Sham, Ridzuan and Ayob, Abu Hanifah},
  journal={Jurnal Pengurusan},
 

volume={41},
  number={},
  pages={25—42},
  year={2014},
  doi={},
  publisher={Penerbit UKM},
}

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41 (2014) 25 – 42

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