Internationalization patterns of small and medium‐sized enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the conceptual frameworks and concepts with which the research on internationalization patterns of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) should be conducted.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive overview of concepts and a conceptual framework to study internationalization patterns of SMEs is offered.Findings – The complexities of existing definitions and methodologies for researching internationalization patterns are highlighted, and a synthesis of the issues is provided. An integrative model of internationalization pathways, and their antecedents and outcomes is presented.Research limitations/implications – It is recommended that future research focuses especially on the time dimension of internationalization patterns. Future research can contribute to the literature by adopting a longitudinal approach with larger samples and more detailed cases to capture the dynamics of internationalization.Practical implications – Practitione...

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