The Born-Global Phenomenon: A Multiple Case Study Research In Spain
The Born-global Phenomenon: A Multiple Case Study Research In Spain
Alex Rialp-Criado
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Josep Rialp-Criado
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
David Urbano
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Yancy Vaillant
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Dep. d’Economia de l’Empresa, Edifici B
Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona)
Espanya (Spain)
Tel: +34-93 581 22 68
Fax: +34-93 581 25 55
E-mail: Alex.Rialp@uab.es
ABSTRACT
Despite the fact that most long-established firms appear to internationalise following a slow, incremental path of development (Johanson and Vahlne, 1977), other more dynamic, recently-established, and highly entrepreneurial SMEs seem to be able to become international almost at founding or very shortly thereafter (McDougall et al., 1994; Oviatt and McDougall, 1994, 1997; Madsen and Servais, 1997). Actually, the growing significance of international new ventures (INVs) and born-globals is challenging most of the theoretical developments previously established in the field. Thus, in order to enrich our understanding of the business internationalisation process, this emerging generation of “born-globals”, and the determinant factors motivating their existence, prevalence, and development, should be also taken into account.
Therefore, with the aim to add new empirical support and further explanation to this phenomenon, the main purpose of this research paper is to identify, in an exploratory way, the most relevant characteristics shown by several new, born-global firms and their managers versus other more conventional and newly-established SMEs in a specific geographic area inside Spain. This is done by means of a highly valuable qualitative research technique, the multiple case study method which, according...
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