{"title":"Family SMEs post-entry in international markets: decision modes on foreign partners","authors":"Katerina Kampouri, Yannis Hajidimitriou","doi":"10.1108/ribs-06-2023-0069","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\n<p>This study aims to address two research questions: Do the decision modes on foreign partner selection post-entry vary between different types of family small and medium enterprises (SMEs)? How does socio-emotional wealth (SEW) affect (if so) decision modes in international partnership post-entry decisions (e.g. engagements with or changes of international partners) in different types of family SMEs?</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\n<p>This study employs a qualitative case study design of different types of family SMEs, namely, one family firm with a high level of family involvement in the internationalisation activities of the firm (FMH) and one family firm with a low level of family involvement in the internationalisation activities of the firm (FML).</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Findings</h3>\n<p>The case study evidence indicates different decision modes on foreign partner selection post-entry in the investigated family SMEs: a bounded rationality mode in the FMH firm and a real option reasoning in the FML firm. The bounded rationality mode was linked with the appearance of SEW goals in the FMH firm, which in turn led to foreign partner engagements resulting also in a low speed of internationalisation growth. In contrast, the real option reasoning mode in the FML firm was not linked with SEW goals, and it led to international partner changes, resulting in a speedier internationalisation growth.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Originality/value</h3>\n<p>This study unearths the case that different types of family SMEs can employ different decision modes in their international partnerships, whereas SEW tendencies do not always appear.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":45046,"journal":{"name":"Review of International Business and Strategy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Review of International Business and Strategy","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ribs-06-2023-0069","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address two research questions: Do the decision modes on foreign partner selection post-entry vary between different types of family small and medium enterprises (SMEs)? How does socio-emotional wealth (SEW) affect (if so) decision modes in international partnership post-entry decisions (e.g. engagements with or changes of international partners) in different types of family SMEs?
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs a qualitative case study design of different types of family SMEs, namely, one family firm with a high level of family involvement in the internationalisation activities of the firm (FMH) and one family firm with a low level of family involvement in the internationalisation activities of the firm (FML).
Findings
The case study evidence indicates different decision modes on foreign partner selection post-entry in the investigated family SMEs: a bounded rationality mode in the FMH firm and a real option reasoning in the FML firm. The bounded rationality mode was linked with the appearance of SEW goals in the FMH firm, which in turn led to foreign partner engagements resulting also in a low speed of internationalisation growth. In contrast, the real option reasoning mode in the FML firm was not linked with SEW goals, and it led to international partner changes, resulting in a speedier internationalisation growth.
Originality/value
This study unearths the case that different types of family SMEs can employ different decision modes in their international partnerships, whereas SEW tendencies do not always appear.
期刊介绍:
Review of International Business and Strategy is keen to present contemporary and innovative research that proposes new perspectives or challenges existing theories, and that advances the understanding of issues related to international business and global strategy. Themes covered by the journal include (but are not limited to): Internationalization of firms and international entrepreneurship Effects of international environment (political, social, economic and institutional) on international business activities and firm strategies Knowledge transfer strategies and innovation in MNEs Location strategies in international business activities.