Entrepreneurial Action in the Pre-Export Phase of SMEs: A Cognitive Approach
(2014) ENTN19 20141Department of Business Administration
- Abstract (Swedish)
- The purpose of this study is to advance the theoretical knowledge of internationalisation of small and
medium-sized firms from an individual perspective. In particular, the research takes a cognitive approach in
understanding how experiential knowledge shapes entrepreneurs’ uncertainty perception and thus their
willingness to recognise and act upon export opportunities. Six in-depth, semi-structured interviews were
conducted with three exporters and non-exporters in the Swedish beverage sector. The comparative analysis
allowed understanding how individuals on each group recognise, evaluate and act upon export opportunities
within their milieu. Empirical findings show differences in the underlying uncertainty perception amongst
both... (More) - The purpose of this study is to advance the theoretical knowledge of internationalisation of small and
medium-sized firms from an individual perspective. In particular, the research takes a cognitive approach in
understanding how experiential knowledge shapes entrepreneurs’ uncertainty perception and thus their
willingness to recognise and act upon export opportunities. Six in-depth, semi-structured interviews were
conducted with three exporters and non-exporters in the Swedish beverage sector. The comparative analysis
allowed understanding how individuals on each group recognise, evaluate and act upon export opportunities
within their milieu. Empirical findings show differences in the underlying uncertainty perception amongst
both groups. Key to these differences is entrepreneurs’ individual motives, which wrought the type of
experiences they engage in and accordingly the experiential knowledge they accumulate. Given the empirical
observations, five propositions were developed to refine the understanding of entrepreneurs’ decision making
process in the pre-export phase. This led to the construction of an empirical framework. Lastly,
theoretical and practical implications were delineated. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/4456523
- author
- Elawad, Ziad LU and Kleimeier, Martin
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- ENTN19 20141
- year
- 2014
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- SMEs, Internationalisation, Exporting, Experiential Knowledge, Entrepreneurial Action, Opportunity Recognition, Opportunity Evaluation, Entrepreneurial Learning, Motives, Cognitive Biases
- language
- English
- id
- 4456523
- date added to LUP
- 2014-06-19 10:27:37
- date last changed
- 2014-06-19 10:27:37
@misc{4456523, abstract = {{The purpose of this study is to advance the theoretical knowledge of internationalisation of small and medium-sized firms from an individual perspective. In particular, the research takes a cognitive approach in understanding how experiential knowledge shapes entrepreneurs’ uncertainty perception and thus their willingness to recognise and act upon export opportunities. Six in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three exporters and non-exporters in the Swedish beverage sector. The comparative analysis allowed understanding how individuals on each group recognise, evaluate and act upon export opportunities within their milieu. Empirical findings show differences in the underlying uncertainty perception amongst both groups. Key to these differences is entrepreneurs’ individual motives, which wrought the type of experiences they engage in and accordingly the experiential knowledge they accumulate. Given the empirical observations, five propositions were developed to refine the understanding of entrepreneurs’ decision making process in the pre-export phase. This led to the construction of an empirical framework. Lastly, theoretical and practical implications were delineated.}}, author = {{Elawad, Ziad and Kleimeier, Martin}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Entrepreneurial Action in the Pre-Export Phase of SMEs: A Cognitive Approach}}, year = {{2014}}, }