Preconditions for Born Global Internationalization: Network Approach

Abstract

A rapidly changing environment creates new challenges for companies seeking to expand their activities outside the country. On the other hand, the changes can be accelerators for new activities, new breakthroughs of ideas. Internationalization solutions of born global enterprises are often in response of changes in the environment and have a quick solution for engaging in the foreign markets, ambition and entrepreneurial activity. Rapid internationalization of small and medium-sized companies is often associated with strong partners and the need for the operation of a network. Therefore, networking is becoming a necessity for successful internationalization of born global companies. Building on the extant literature and drawing on the network theory, this paper presents a conceptual model of born global firm internationalization and benefits from the networking in internationalization process. The theoretical research has shown that formal and informal networking is crucial for internationalization of born global enterprises, however there are positive and negative outcomes, which are discussed. The investigation contributes to born global literature, presenting networking-based rapid internationalization.