SME International Business Models: The Role of Context and Experience

Main author: Child, John
Other authors: Hsieh, Linda
Elbanna, Said
Karmowska, Joanna
Marinova, Svetla
Puthusserry, Pushyarag
Tsai, Terence
Narooz, Rose
Zhang, Yunlu
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


Summary: This paper addresses two questions through a study of 180 SMEs located in contrasting industry and home country contexts. First, which business models for international markets prevail among SMEs and do they configure into different types? Second, which factors predict the international business models that SMEs follow? Three distinct international business models (traditional market-adaptive, technology-exploiter, and ambidextrous explorer) are found among the SMEs studied. The likelihood of SMEs adopting one business model rather than another is to a high degree predictable with reference to a small set of factors: industry, level of home economy development, and decision-maker international experience.