Among family businesses (FBs) internationalization has become a strategy for growth, and sometimes even for survival. This review article presents an analysis conducted on 25 refereed journal articles on FB internationalization. The articles typically portrayed the internationalization of FBs as a sequential process following the Uppsala model of internationalization; by contrast, some FBs were regarded as "born-again" global firms. In methodological terms, most of the articles focused on what-questions rather than why/how-questions. The articles did not make much use of internationalization or FBspecific theories. Our study takes a step towards clarifying the following issues: (i) the current state of knowledge of the phenomenon, (ii) the kinds of background theories applied, and (iii) the methodological approaches utilized. Based on our findings, we map out areas of research that are likely to advance the field of FB internationalization.

The importance of network ties is emphasized in the current literature on opportunity recognition. However, it is unclear how firms with limited bridging networks, such as family SMEs, recognize international opportunities through their network ties. In this case study we found that in gaining foreign market entry, those family SMEs that lack existing network ties recognize opportunities through weak ties formed in international exhibitions. The findings also indicate that rather than being proactive, family SMEs respond reactively to opportunities that emerge coincidentally. The trustfulness of the tie is important when they consider these opportunities and form new ties for internationalization. The nature of the cooperator appears to be more important than the target country. From these findings we develop five propositions that are intended to lead to further studies on this topic.

Current research in the field of entrepreneurship emphasizes the importance of opportunity recognition as a key element in the entrepreneurial process. It has been recognized that network ties, activeness and alertness, and prior knowledge are related to how entrepreneurs recognize new opportunities. However, it is unclear how important these factors are when a firm explores opportunities for entry into a foreign market. In this exploratory case study, covering the international opportunity recognition of eight family‐owned small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), we found that the firms in question mainly recognized international opportunities by establishing new formal ties rather than using existing informal or family ties. The findings also indicated that due to the small size and the flexibility of the management team in family SMEs, these firms were able to react quickly to new international opportunities. However, there was no direct relationship between the prior knowledge of the firms and their international opportunity recognition. In addition, we found that trade exhibitions formed the primary context for the international opportunity recognition of the SMEs in this study. These findings motivate a set of five propositions that may lead to further studies on this topic.

Purpose -To increase understanding of the internationalization of family firms; to investigate how the framework by Bell et al. (2003) on the internationalization patterns of firms could explain the internationalization pathways taken by family-owned SMEs; to identify typical patterns and features in the various pathways taken by family-owned SMEs.Design/methodology/approach -This paper reports findings from an in-depth multiple case study with eight Finnish family-owned SMEs.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate how psychic distance affects the internationalization process, foreign market entry (FME), and entry mode choice of Finnish small and medium-sized family enterprises (family SMEs) operating in France. Design/methodology/approach -The paper reports findings from an in-depth case study covering four Finnish manufacturing family SMEs operating in the French market. The data were analyzed using the Uppsala model and distance creating and distance-bridging factors encountered in the FME to France. Findings -The findings reveal that the family SMEs mainly followed a sequential process and favored indirect entry modes before entering the French market. The French market was psychically distant, but the case firms were able to overcome the distance by using different distance-bridging factors. Based on the findings, it can be argued that psychic distance has an especially important role in the internationalization and the FME of family SMEs, mainly because of their general cautiousness caused by family presence. Research limitations/implications -Although the case study method made it possible to acquire detailed knowledge about the firms' internationalization, the findings can be generalized only to some extent. Practical implications -Managers of family SMEs and family members should be provided with the capacity to overcome distance-creating factors, they might encounter in their FME. The decision to internationalize is a strategic change that will most probably change the historical harmony of the firm. Originality/value -Prior research has mainly focused only on general internationalization pathways of family SMEs. In addition and contrast to the previous studies, this paper investigates the role of perceived psychic distance in family SMEs' FME and entry mode choice in a certain target market.