Competitive advantage from exposure to multiple national environments: the induced internationalisation of 'born-multidomestic' firms. (21st January 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lehrer, Mark; Schlegelmilch, Bodo B.; Behnam, Michael
• Is Part Of: European journal of international management. Volume 3:Number 1(2009)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2009-01-21
• Subjects: MNCs -- multinational corporations -- induced internationalisation -- born-global firms -- software industry -- SAP AG -- Germany -- market entry -- foreign markets; Management -- Periodicals; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; International business enterprises -- Management -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 658.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-6757

Abstract

Recent work on early internationalisers and born-global firms emphasises the entrepreneurial orientation of these firms. In contrast, this paper analyses the neglected, but nonetheless prevalent, phenomenon of firms that enter foreign markets at a relatively early stage because their home country and/or line of business embeds them in an international environment. Such 'induced' early internationalisers can be called born-multidomestic firms. A basic model of causes and competitive effects of induced early internationalisation is illustrated with a longitudinal study of software maker SAP AG of Germany.