A literature review on CEE firms’ outward internationalization failures: definitions, processes, causes and consequences

Purpose

This paper aims to summarize the literature (journal articles and book chapters) on Central and Eastern European (CEE) firms’ outward internationalization failures: definitions and understandings of “failure”, “failed” firms’ internationalization processes, causes of “failed” initial and subsequent foreign activities and consequences of “failed” internationalization.

Design/methodology/approach

This systematic-narrative hybrid literature review article focuses on CEE firms’ outward internationalization failures.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that different objective and subjective measures were used for defining and measuring “failure”. Consensus regarding which firms (from slow internationalizers to born globals) can be considered “failed” is lacking. In different studies, internal and external causes of CEE firms’ outward internationalization “failure” and internationalization-related and other consequences of “failed” internationalization also vary considerably. Due to the complexity of the “failure” phenomenon, it is impossible to identify the most characteristic type of “failed” internationalization or offer “optimal” advice for avoiding failures.

Originality/value

The author is not aware of any other literature review articles focused on CEE firms’ outward internationalization failures. This article contributes to the (international) business and (international) entrepreneurship literature focused on failures, exits and institutional and other factors affecting them.