Abstract
The general objective of this article is to analyse innovation as a determinant of the internationalisation patterns of Brazilian technology-based SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in different sectors and with different technological features. The theoretical background of this article centres on the typologies of innovation, SMEs’ internationalisation patterns, and innovation as an internationalisation determinant. The main theoretical contributions of this qualitative study are its analysis of innovation of the firm, focusing on the type of innovation, the degree of novelty, and the degree of control over the innovation process as determinants of their internationalisation patterns, and the influence of the external organisational environment on innovation and internationalisation. In terms of managerial implications, we highlight the effect of these factors on the competitiveness of case firms in international markets. Finally, our suggestions for future studies include the need for research replication in other emerging markets, the inclusion of both mature and young technology-based SMEs in the sample, the use of longitudinal data for case studies, and the validation of this qualitative study through a quantitative study that includes a larger sample of technology-based SMEs.
Resumen
El objetivo general de este artículo es analizar la innovación como determinante de los modelos de internacionalización de las PYME (pequeñas y medianas empresas) brasileñas de base tecnológica en diferentes sectores y con diferentes características tecnológicas. El marco teórico de este artículo se centra en las tipologías de innovación, los modelos de internacionalización de las PYMES y la innovación como determinante de la internacionalización. Las principales contribuciones teóricas de este estudio cualitativo son su análisis de la innovación de la firma, que se centra en el tipo de innovación, el grado de novedad y el grado de control sobre e l proceso de innovación como determinantes de los modelos de internacionalización, y la influencia del entorno organizacional externo en innovación y internacionalización. En términos de implicaciones gerenciales, destacamos el efecto de estos factores en la competitividad de las firmas de casos en los mercados internacionales. Finalmente, nuestras sugerencias para estudios futuros incluyen la necesidad de replicar la investigación en otros mercados emergentes; la inclusión en la muestra de PYMES de base tecnológica tanto maduras como jóvenes; el uso de datos longitudinales para estudios de casos; y la validación de este estudio cualitativo a través de un estudio cuantitativo que incluya una muestra más amplia de PYMES de base tecnológica.
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Funding
The research was funded by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior, Brazil. The final revision service was funded by the Fundação de Apoio à Universidade do Rio Grande, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande.
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Semensato, B.I., Oliva, F.L. & Roehrich, G. Innovation as an internationalisation determinant of Brazilian technology-based SMEs. J Int Entrep 20, 404–432 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-022-00317-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-022-00317-y