DOI: 10.5176/2251-2039_IE16.15
Authors: Ananya Tasujai and Kannika Leelapanyalert
Abstract: Despite the increasing prominence of entrepreneurial firms in the global economy and internationalization of small to medium-sized firms (SMEs), the studies based on SMEs and international entrepreneurship are rare, especially in emerging markets. In response to this gap, this research seeks to address the reason why entrepreneurs in Thai SMEs take the decision to internationalize and enter foreign markets. Propositions relating to internal and external factors influencing the international decision of entrepreneurs in small to medium-sized firms are appointed and investigated through in-depth interviews with 32 SME entrepreneurs from four regions in Thailand. The result shows that the important influences on international decisions of Thai SME entrepreneurs can be divided into internal and external factors. Four emerging themes are also found to motivate their international decisions. This research identifies factors expected to be useful for practitioners and academics in the field of international entrepreneurship, and also presents the implications for future research in this area.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, SMEs, International Business, Decision-Making, Internationalization
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