The Roles of Intercultural Competency, and the Openness for Intuition of Swiss and Thai SMEs in the Internationalization Decision Making

DOI: 10.5176/2251-1970_BizStrategy15.07

Authors: Nuntana Udomkit and Claus Schreier

Abstract: This research paper explores and compares, firstly, the roles of intercultural competency on the success of SMEs internationalization. Secondly, it examines the receptive to intuition on SMEs internationalization’s decision. The online survey was conducted in Switzerland in 2013 and in-depth interviews were conducted in Thailand in 2015.The results show cultural intelligence plays a crucial role in the success of SMEs’ internationalization both in Switzerland and Thailand. Intuitive decision making are commonly done where there is a lack of information in internationalization decision of both Swiss and Thai SMEs.

Keywords:  intuition, intercultural competence, cultural intelligence and internationalization