Managing Risk and Knowledge in the Internationalisation Process Articles uri icon

authors

  • BARCOS REDIN, LUCIA
  • RODRÍGUEZ, VICTORIA M.
  • ÁLVAREZ, Mª JESÚS

publication date

  • January 2010

start page

  • 202

end page

  • 235

issue

  • 2

volume

  • 6

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1697-9818

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2014-3214

abstract

  • The internationalisation process in a company embodies a series of projects that are performed in different geographical regions. In some cases, especially in SMEs, companies are not capable of predicting the
    risks that will be faced during the process and they do not have
    suitable tools to manage the knowledge acquired in previous
    internationalisation experiences. Therefore, they fail to turn
    internationalisation into a sustainable competitive advantage. This
    paper reports the conclusions of a study based on both a bibliographic
    research and a comprehensive study of a group of industrial companies.
    This study includes the analysis of 37 internal reports about
    internationalisation experiences and the carrying out of semi-structured
    interviews with managers responsible for international operations. We
    have identified the main factors (risks) that prevent successful
    internationalisation processes and we have proposed a taxonomy of them.
    Furthermore, we have proposed a general framework (model) which provides
    a common perspective for all internationalisation projects, bringing
    coherence, and also a certain level of systematisation, to the decisions
    made in regards to different internationalisation projects. The model
    provides a systemic vision of the whole internationalisation process and
    we believe that companies can develop efficient learning systems based
    on this framework. It would give them differentiation and, therefore,
    help them to turn internationalisation into a sustainable competitive
    advantage.