LEARNING DURING AND AFTER INTERNATIONALIZATION BY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRMS FROM EMERGING ECONOMIES.

Abstract

We develop and test a model that explains how entrepreneurial firms from emerging markets learn over the entire internationalization process and not simply before or immediately post entry. Using a sample of 216 firms from China, India and South Africa, we show that age at international entry and commitment of resources to international entry have inverted U-shape relationships with firm growth while the acquisition of network ties and proprietary technology have positive linear ones. The findings suggest that successful internationalization is not a discrete process; rather, it is a continuous effort through which entrepreneurial firms build knowledge over time taking advantage of diverse learning opportunities.