Opening the black box : A comparative case study on international prospectors
Journal
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing
ISSN
1742-5360
ISSN-Digital
1742-5379
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2012-01-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Previous research on international new ventures focused on early outward-driven internationalisation. In contrast, the present study focuses upon international prospectors: international new ventures - founded in Germany or Switzerland - which are international from day one, source from Southeast Asia, and sell on the domestic market. Applying a comparative case-study design, our results indicate that - compared to outward-driven early internationalisers, international prospectors are rather low-tech. Similar to outward-driven international new ventures, founders of international prospectors are internationally experienced and cross-culturally educated. Moreover, intimate knowledge of the sourcing country has made them discover and transfer the business opportunity to the domestic market. In addition, we found that sourcing is not a dead end. Rather, international prospectors rapidly engage in exporting as well - making them in turn thoroughly international firms.
Language
English
Keywords
international new ventures
INVs
international prospectors
international entrepreneurship
Germany
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
lnderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Publisher place
Genève, SWITZERLAND
Volume
4
Number
1
Start page
77
End page
95
Pages
19
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
209218