Human aspect of business internationalization: Is international experience crucial?
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According to the literature on international entrepreneurship, certain particular characteristics of the manager can lead to a better commercial performance of his company in international markets, in particular, international experience is considered by many as the crucial factor for internationalization. Despite this, some authors argue that international experience is not a vital factor for the international expansion of companies. It is still unclear how and why such an experience can lead to a greater degree of internalization of a company. Its relevance for internationalization is simply implied. This study aims to determine the mechanism through which the international experience of managers could impact the degree of internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To do this, we develop a research model, which is empirically tested in a sample of 133 owner managers of exporting SMEs. Applying a strict protocol in structural structure modeling techniques, our results show that the international experience of a manager indirectly impacts the degree of internationalization of an SME, influencing higher levels of proactivity and lower levels of risk perception of international expansion. The proactivity of managers in international markets is the key factor influencing the degree of internationalization of SMEs. The perception of the risk of international expansion greatly impacts the levels of proactivity of managers in the international market.
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