A configuration-holistic approach to born-global firms strategy formation process

Summary This paper attempts to offer a deeper conceptual understanding of the early and rapid internationalization process of born-global firms by applying the lens of the strategy-making process. In other words, it offers an integrated strategic management perspective to explain the so-called born-global phenomenon. We argue that born-global firms' strategy-making processes can be aligned with different schools of strategic thought depending mostly upon the nature of the specific factor/s triggering their particular international strategic behavior and also the specific phase in which they may find themselves along their international development process from inception. The most relevant academic implication to be obtained from this study is to stimulate more creative and integrative thinking on investigating the born-global phenomenon. In addition, both managers of these firms and policy-makers can also benefit from this conceptual research by gaining more knowledge regarding the way in which strategy-making processes can be reconciled from different perspectives and approaches.

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