Born Global Strategies: Evidence from a Multiple Case Study of Italian Entrepreneurs (Withdrawn by Author 4/25/12) (WITHDRAWN)
Annotatsiya
In recent years, stage models as well as the incremental, step-by-step internationalization process have been questioned by the worldwide emerging phenomenon of “born global” firms, i.e. companies that internationalize their activities from inception or shortly thereafter. Globalization of markets and new technologies are widely recognized as “pull” factors influencing the formation of born global firms. Scholars demonstrate these companies adopt strategies particularly suitable to face global competition (Rialp, Rialp, & Knight, 2005). Since the late 1980s, several studies have been carried on this topic, searching for the factors that made possible to born global firms going through this fast pace of internationalization. Nevertheless, authors argue that further evidence and analysis on these firms is required (Oviatt & McDougall, 1997). Based on a multiple case study research the paper aims at providing further evidence on this phenomenon. An in-depth qualitative analysis has been performed based on eight startups founded by Italian entrepreneurs that showed an early internationalization towards the US and the Silicon Valley in particular. They have been interviewed with the goal of validating the major drivers of internationalization the literature attributes to born global companies. The cross case study analysis carried out highlights that not all the drivers seem to be equally relevant. The major findings of the study are twofold. First, the importance of professional networks built by entrepreneurs before establishing the company. Secondly, how the entrepreneur’s prior experience abroad (either as entrepreneur or as employee or for studying reasons) triggers and orients the internationalization path of a company.