Putting Process (Back) In: Research on the Internationalization Process of the Firm

Abstract

This paper provides a critique of existing research on the internationalization process of the firm and proposes an agenda for future inquiry. In recent years, process approaches have received increasing attention in management research, leading to a more refined understanding of the distinction between process and variance paradigms. We apply a process lens to a well-established sub-field of international business, namely the internationalization process of the firm. We review how this research tradition has evolved over four decades. The review commences with a reassessment of the seminal 'stage models' that date back to the 1970s. It then proceeds to classify subsequent research on the basis of whether it includes process data and/or process theorizing. It is found that the majority of studies in this review do not combine process data with process theorizing. We show how, even in studies that contain some process elements, a process approach is not always sustained throughout the paper. On the basis of this review, six research themes are proposed, which would form the basis for a process agenda for future research.

Effects of Social Media Usage on the Speed of International Growth of an International New Venture

“…The relevance of choosing a longitudinal case-study lays in the possibility of explaining "how" and "why" change happens and therefore capturing dynamism [36,43]. As suggested by Welch & Paaivilainen-Mäntymäki [38], studies that stem from process theories, such as the internationalization process of INVs, should include process data. A case-study provides retrospective and real-time data which fit the description of firm internationalization well.…”

“…Only through a dynamic approach, tackled with longitudinal data, are we able to provide answers to the challenges that INVs face during their internationalization process which is often characterized by lack of resources [27,38]. The aim of this study is therefore to analyse the effects of social media usage on the speed of international growth of INVs during their development in international markets.…”

Beyond categorization: New directions for theory development about entrepreneurial internationalization

“…Process research tends to examine temporal sequences of events (Langley, 1999) and recent entrepreneurship research has shown how it can be used to understand better the nature of entrepreneurial opportunity (for example, McMullen & Dimov, 2013;Suddaby, Bruton, & Si, 2015). However, despite the apparent match between process theory and the dynamics of entrepreneurial internationalization, reviews of opportunity-based research in international entrepreneurship (Mainela et al, 2014) and process-based research in international business (Welch & Paavilainen-Mäntymäki, 2014) have few empirical studies in common.…”

Interdependence Across a Firm's International Trajectories

“…Notwithstanding, as recently remarked by Nachum andSong (2011), Shaver (2013) and C. Welch and Paavilainen-Mäntymäki (2014), inquiry into it is still parsimonious and sketchy. Consequently, the interdependence across the firm's international trajectories remains backstage in accepted explanations of the internationalization of the firm (Fortanier & Tulder, 2009;Salgado, 2011).…”