Pqawtu Et Al
Pqawtu Et Al
Pqawtu Et Al
http://hdl.handle.net/10251/38315
Gil Pechuán, I.; Expósito Langa, M.; Tomas Miquel, JV. (2013). International
entrepreneurship in SMEs: a study of influencing factors in the textile industry. International
Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. 9(1):45-57. doi:10.1007/s11365-012-0242-3.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11365-012-0242-3
Copyright
Springer Verlag (Germany)
International Entrepreneurship in SMEs: A Study of Influencing
Factors in the Textile Industry
1
Email: [email protected]
2
Email: [email protected]
3
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
and represents 17% of the Spanish textile Portuguese companies that collects general
industry, providing employment for over information and financial data. In the case of
24,000 people, with a turnover of €1,920 Spain, it has collected more than 95% of the
million euros and exports worth €693 million. companies in the 17 Spanish regions with total
yearly revenues of over €360,000-€420,000.
(INSERT TABLE 1 ABOUT HERE) technology-based advantages to contribute to
the superior performance of born-global
3.2 Measures internationalization (Zhou, 2007). In this sense,
We carried out this study using some basic respondents were asked about participating in
variables. We reviewed previous research to nationals R&D programmes or in European
generate measuring procedures and adapted Competitiveness and Innovation Framework
them to the particular context of our empirical Programmes in the last five years.
setting. Creativity and Innovation. This variable has
3.2.1 Dependent variable long been a core focus for entrepreneurship
International Entrepreneurship. Following researchers (Styles & Seymour, 2006).
Styles & Seymour’s (2006) definition of IE we Creativity and Innovation facilitate the firm’s
assessed the degree of creation and exchange willingness and ability to engage in
of value through the identification and international markets. In fact, Kropp et al.
exploitation of opportunities that cross national (2006) state that creativity and innovation are
borders. We asked firms to evaluate critical to international entrepreneurial
internationalization projects over the last five business ventures. Other authors (Knight and
years, such as international promotion actions, Cavusgil, 2004) found that innovative products
new market prospection, new international and quality improved international orientation.
venture creation and international business. In consequence, we asked about their results in
3.2.2 Independent variables creation and innovation through new designs,
Skills/Competences. Human capital in new material and fibres used in production
international ventures is becoming increasingly processes, new applications and new products
important. Firms focusing on knowledge, skills in the last five years.
and competences are more likely to be Networking. Networking is a powerful tool for
successful in adapting to new environments, the entrepreneur (Dubini & Aldrich, 1991;
such as as international markets, than firms Oviatt & McDougall, 2005). The
which are more dependent on tangible internationalization processes of
resources. Thus, knowledge-intensive firms are entrepreneurial firms are enriched through
less constrained by distance or national network contacts, rather than solely from the
boundaries (Autio et al., 2000). Thus, we asked strategic managerial decisions. Thus, networks
how many graduates with technical can help entrepreneurs identify international
competences there were in the workforce. opportunities and cooperative strategies
Attitude/Proactiveness. International (Oviatt & McDougall, 2005). We asked firms
entrepreneurship involves risk-taking, to evaluate the perception obtained from the
proactiveness and innovative behaviours since cooperation agreements established with
it allows national boundaries to be crossed universities, technological centres, trade
(Coviello and Jones, 2004; Zhou, 2007). An associations and others firms in international
innovation culture can drive products and projects.
International Performance. International sales dependent on firm size. Additionally, the
as a percentage of total sales are the most dummy variable had no significant association
widely used measure to capture the with IE. After introducing Model 1, Table 2
effectiveness of international performance shows the results of the model regression
(Zhou, 2007; Yeoh, 2004). Respondents were contrasting the hypotheses we proposed. All
asked about the percentage of their foreign five hypotheses were supported. In all cases,
sales against their total sales on a seven-point the F-statistic result confirmed the significance
scale. of the variance of the dependent variable
Employees. Size is usually used as a control through the models. Finally we obtained an
variable in studies of IE (Peiris et al., 2012). Adjusted R2 of (.389), a value that we consider
The variable has been measured through the acceptable to complete an integrative view of
number of employees. IE that focuses on concepts related to
Activity. We identified the sample companies employee profile, innovation attitude and a
according to their activity (commercial or proactive context, cooperation and previous
manufacturing). To do this, we built a dummy experiences in the firm.
variable in order to show different behaviours (INSERT TABLE 2 ABOUT HERE)
depending on the main activity they carried
out. 5. Conclusions
The research stream on IE offers great
4. Results opportunities for scholars to employ and
To test the hypotheses we ran a stepwise integrate theories from multiple disciplines
hierarchical regression approach to assess the (Zahra & George, 2002). IE behaviour is a
explanatory power of each variable. To complex social phenomenon that requires
compute all models we used the statistics different types of resources to identify and
software SPSS version 20. exploit opportunities (Peiris et al., 2012).
We performed various regression equation Thus, this work was based on providing a
analyses, which are shown in Table 2. In each comprehensive picture of the resources that
regression model, variables were progressively influence IE. Specifically, we have
introduced in order to analyze the emphasized the importance of integrating
improvement in their fit and significance level. entrepreneurial competencies, social
We previously validated all multi-item scales networks and innovation factors. In our view,
with an exploratory factor analysis. this paper contributes to IE literature
Model 1 presents the base case controlling firm because it combines multiple factors and has
size (Employees) and Activity. Neither obtained the importance of each category in
Employees nor Activity was significantly IE. Additionally, the paper’s contribution is
associated with IE. These results were in line with authors who point out the need
expected since previous literature (Peiris et al., to use multi-theoretical perspectives (Zahra
2012) revealed that, for instance, IE was not & George, 2002; Jones & Coviello, 2005).
The results obtained show how important it from the early stages to the achievement of
is for international entrepreneurs to have a results in the company. Thirdly, it would be
team with the right skills to tackle new interesting to carry out a more detailed study
international ventures. Thus, having workers in entrepreneurial companies. This would
with adequate skills is necessary for the firm enable us to compare their role in local
to adapt to new scenarios in international markets, their customer or supplier profiles
markets. In addition, the findings highlight and their product portfolio to name but a few.
the importance of developing an innovative However, we must leave these limitations
attitude and innovative products, resulting in for future studies.
superior international market ventures. IE References
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Number of
32 -.835 .405 -2.144
employees
Skills/Competences .810 (.220)** .695 (.215)** .614 (.208)** .610 (.200)** .563 (.186)**
Employees (control) .010 (.003) .007 (.003) .000 (.004) -.001 (.003) -.002 (.003) -.003 (.003)
Activity (control) -.156 (.204) -.170 (.197) -.153 (.190) -.065 (.185) -.072 (.178) .035 (.167)
N = 174; p< .01 **; p< .05* Non standard coefficients (errors in brackets)