Nascent entrepreneurs’ personality attributes and the international dimension of new ventures

  1. Muñoz-Bullón, Fernando 1
  2. Sánchez-Bueno, Maria J. 1
  3. Vos-Saz, Antonio 1
  1. 1 Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Calle Madrid, 126, 28903, Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Revista:
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal

ISSN: 1554-7191,  1555-1938

Ano de publicación: 2013

Volume: 11

Número: 3

Páxinas: 473-492

Tipo: Artigo

DOI: 10.1007/S11365-013-0284-1 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso aberto editor

Outras publicacións en: International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal

Obxectivos de Desenvolvemento Sustentable

Resumo

In the present paper, we examine the international scale of new venture’s operations. We argue that several dimensions reflecting entrepreneurial orientation (proactiveness, risk taking and innovativeness) are important determinants of nascent entrepreneur’s entry into foreign markets. We apply logistic regression techniques to a sample of nascent entrepreneurs for the United States and the European Union obtained from the GEM dataset for the period 2001–2008. Our results show that the nascent entrepreneur’s propensity to export is positively associated with both their proactiveness and their new venture’s innovativeness. Our analysis, therefore, implies that when making decisions on export, nascent entrepreneurs’ entrepreneurial orientation affect their willingness to operate beyond national boundaries.

Referencias bibliográficas

  • Acedo, F., & Casillas, J. (2007). Age at entry in international markets of Spanish SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Research, 13(3), 130–150.
  • Acedo, F. J., & Florin, J. (2006). An entrepreneurial cognition perspective on the internationalization of SMEs. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 4(1), 49–67.
  • Acedo, F. J., & Jones, M. V. (2007). Speed of internationalization and entrepreneurial cognition: insights and a comparison between international new ventures, exporters and domestic firms. Journal of World Business, 42(3), 236–252.
  • Acs, Z. J., Audretsch, D. B., Braunerhjelm, P., & Carlsson, B. (1997). Small and medium sized enterprises in the global economy: a policy perspective. Small Business Economics, 9(1), 7–20.
  • Ahmed, Z. U., Julian, C. C., Baalbaki, I., & Hadidian, T. V. (2004). Export barriers and firm internationalisation: a study of Lebanese entrepreneurs. Journal of Management and World Business Research, 1(1), 11–22.
  • Andersson, S. (2000). The internationalization of the firm from an entrepreneurial perspective. International Studies of Management and Organization, 30(1), 63–93.
  • Andersson, S., & Evangelista, F. (2006). The entrepreneur in the born global firm in Australia and Sweden. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 13(4), 642–659.
  • Ardichvili, A., Cardozo, R., & Ray, S. (2003). A theory of entrepreneurial opportunity identification and development. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(1), 105–123.
  • Arenius, P., & Minniti, M. (2005). Perceptual variables and nascent entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 24(3), 233–247.
  • Autio, E., Sapienza, H. J., & Almeida, J. G. (2000). Effects of age at entry, knowledge intensity, and imitability on international growth. Academy of Management Journal, 43(5), 909–924.
  • Baron, R. (2012). Entrepreneurship: an evidence based guide. Massachusetts: Edgar Elgar Publishing Limited.
  • Baron, R. A., & Tang, J. (2011). The role of entrepreneurs in firm-level innovation: joint effects of positive affect, creativity, and environmental dynamism. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(1), 49–60.
  • Bloodgood, J., Sapienza, H., & Almeida, J. (1996). The internationalization of new high-potential US ventures: antecedents and outcomes. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 20(4), 61–76.
  • Burton, M. (2001). The company they keep: Founders’ models for organizing new firms. In E. Romanelli & C. Schoonhoven (Eds.), The entrepreneurship dynamic (pp. 13–39). Stanford: Stanford University Press.
  • Butler, J. E., Doktor, R., & Lins, F. A. (2010). Linking international entrepreneurship to uncertainty opportunity discovery and cognition. Journal of International Entreprenurship, 8(2), 121–134.
  • Cassiman, B., & Golovko, E. (2011). Innovation and internationalization through exports. Journal of International Business Studies, 42, 56–75.
  • Caves, R. E. (1996). Multinational enterprise and economic analysis. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Chell, E. (2001). Entrepreneurship: globalization, innovation and development. UK: Cengage Learning.
  • Chell, E. (2008). The nascent entrepreneur, business development and the role of HR. In R. Barret & S. Mayson (Eds.), International handbook of entrepreneurship and HRM (pp. 21–46). UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Covin, J., & Miles, M. (1999). Corporate entrepreneurship and the pursuit of competitive advantage. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 23(3), 47–65.
  • Covin, J. G., Green, K. M., & Slevin, D. P. (2006). Strategic process effects on the entrepreneurial orientation-sales growth rate relationship. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 30(1), 57–81.
  • Dana, L. P., Hamilton, R. T., & Wick, K. (2009). Deciding to export: an exploratory study of Singaporean entrepreneurs. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 7(2), 79–87.
  • Fan, T., & Phan, P. (2007). International new ventures: revisiting the influences behind the ‘born global’ firm. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(7), 113–1131.
  • Fang, Y., Wade, M., Delios, A., & Beamish, P. W. (2013). An exploration of multinational enterprise knowledge resources and foreign subsidiary performance. Journal of World Business, 48(1), 30–38.
  • Fernhaber, S. A., & Li, D. (2013). International exposure through network relationships: Implications for new venture internationalization. Journal of Business Venturing, 28(2), 316–334.
  • Fernhaber, S. A., Gilbert, B. A., & McDougall, P. P. (2008). International entrepreneurship and geographic location: an empirical examination of new venture internationalization. Journal of International Business Studies, 39(2), 267–290.
  • Filatotchev, I., & Piesse, J. (2009). RandD, internationalization and growth of newly listed firms: European evidence. Journal of International Business Studies, 40(8), 1260–1276.
  • Filatotchev, I., Liu, X., Buck, T., & Wright, M. (2009). The export orientation and export performance of high-technology SMEs in emerging markets: the effects of knowledge transfer by returnee entrepreneurs. Journal of International Business Studies, 40(6), 1005–1021.
  • Gaglio, C. M., & Katz, J. A. (2001). The psychological basis of opportunity identification: entrepreneurial alertness. Small Business Economics, 16, 95–111.
  • Ganotakis, P., & Love, J. H. (2012). Export propensity, export intensity and firm performance: the role of the entrepreneurial founding team. Journal of International Business Studies, 43(8), 693–718.
  • Goerzen, A., & Makino, S. (2007). Multinational corporation internationalization in the service sector: a study of Japanese trading companies. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(7), 1149–1169.
  • Greve, H. R. (1998). Performance, aspirations, and risky organizational change. Administrative Science Quarterly, 43(1), 58–86.
  • Harris, S., & Wheeler, C. (2005). Entrepreneurs’ relationships for internationalization: functions, origins and strategies. International Business Review, 14(2), 187–207.
  • Hatzichronoglou T. (1997). Revision of the high-technology sector and product classification, Paris: STI Working Papers, 1997/2. OECD
  • Hitt, M. A., Hoskisson, R. E., & Kim, H. (1997). International diversification: effects on innovation and firm performance in product-diversified firms. Academy of Management Journal, 40(4), 767–798.
  • Hoetker, G. (2007). The use of logit and probit models in strategic management research: Critical issues. Strategic Management Journal, 28(4), 331–343.
  • Jantunen, A., Puumalainen, K., Saarenketo, S., & Kyläheiko, K. (2005). Entrepreneurial orientation, dynamic capabilities and international performance. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 3(3), 223–243.
  • Kaish, S., & Gilad, B. (1991). Characteristics of opportunities search of entrepreneurs versus executives: sources, interests, general alertness. Journal of Business Venturing, 6(1), 45–61.
  • Kaleka, A. (2012). Studying resource and capability effects on export venture performance. Journal of World Business, 47(1), 93–105.
  • Katsikeas, C., & Morgan, R. (1994). Differences in perception of exporting problems based on firm size and export marketing experience. European Journal of Marketing, 28(5), 17–33.
  • Keh, H. T., Foo, M. D., & Lim, B. C. (2002). Opportunity evaluation under risky conditions: The cognitive processes of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 27(2), 125–148.
  • Knight, G. (2001). Entrepreneurship and strategy in the international SME. Journal of International Management, 7(4), 14–41.
  • Knight, G. A., & Cavusgil, S. T. (2004). Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), 124–141.
  • Kuskova, V. V., Podsakoff, N. P., & Podsakoff, P. M. (2011). Effects of theoretical contribution, methodological rigor, and journal quality, on the impact of scale development articles in the field of entrepreneurship. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 5(1), 10–36.
  • Lau, V. P., Shaffer, M. A., & Au, K. (2007). Entrepreneurial career success form a Chinese perspective: conceptualization, operationalization, and validation. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(1), 126–146.
  • Leiblein, M. J., & Reuer, J. J. (2004). Building a foreign sales base: the roles of capabilities and alliances for entrepreneurial firms. Journal of Business Venturing, 19(2), 285–307.
  • Leonidou, L., Katsikeas, S., & Piercy, S. (1998). Identifying managerial influences on exporting: past research and future directions. Journal of International Marketing, 6(2), 74–102.
  • Liesch, P. W., Welch, L. S., & Buckley, P. J. (2011). Risk and uncertainty in internationalization and international entrepreneurship studies. Management International Review, 51(6), 851–873.
  • Lin, W., & Liu, Y. (2012). Sucessor chracteristics, organisational slack, and change in the degree of firm internationalization. International Business Review, 21(1), 89–101.
  • Lu, J., & Beamish, P. (2006). SME internationalization and performance:growth vs. profitability. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 4(1), 27–48.
  • Lu, Y., Zhou, L., Bruton, G., & Li, W. (2010). Capabilities as a mediator linking resources and the international performance of entrepreneurial firms in an emerging economy. Journal of International Business Studies, 41(3), 419–436.
  • Lumpkin, G. T., & Dess, G. G. (1996). Clarifying the entrepreneurial orientation construct and linking it to performance. Academy of Management Journal, 43(5), 902–906.
  • Madsen, T. K., & Servais, P. (1997). The internationalization of born globals: an evolutionary process? International Business Review, 6(6), 561–583.
  • Mathews, J., & Zander, I. (2007). The international entrepreneurial dynamics of accelerated internationalization. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(3), 387–403.
  • McDougall, P. P., & Oviatt, B. M. (2000). International entrepreneurship: the intersection of two research paths. Academy of Management Journal, 43(5), 902–906.
  • McDougall, P. P., Shane, S., & Oviatt, B. M. (1994). Explaining the formation of international new ventures. Journal of Business Venturing, 9(6), 469–487.
  • Miller, D. (1983). The correlates of entrepreneurship in three types of firms. Management Science, 29(7), 770–791.
  • Minniti, M. (2004). Entrepreneurial alertness and asymmetric information in a spin-glass model. Journal of Business Venturing, 19(5), 637–658.
  • Minniti, M., & Bygrave, W. (2001). A dynamic model of entrepreneurial learning. Entrepreurship Theory and Practice, 25(3), 5–16.
  • Mtigwe, B. (2005). The entrepreneurial firm internationalization process in the Southern African context. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 11(5), 358–377.
  • Nadkarni, S., & Barr, P. (2008). Environmental context, managerial cognition, and strategic action: an integrated view. Strategic Management Journal, 29(13), 1395–1427.
  • O’Cass, A., & Weerawardena, J. (2009). Examining the role of international entrepreneurship, innovation and international market performance in SME internationalization. European Journal of Marketing, 43(11), 1325–1348.
  • Oviatt, B. M., & McDougall, P. P. (2005a). Defining international entrepreneurship and modeling the speed of internationalization. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 29(5), 537–553.
  • Oviatt, B. M., & McDougall, P. P. (2005b). Toward a theory of international new ventures. Journal of International Business Studies, 36(1), 29–41.
  • Reynolds, P. D., Bosma, N. S., & Autio, E. (2005). Global entrepreneurship monitor: data collection design and implementation 1998–2003. Small Business Economics, 24, 233–247.
  • Rialp, A., Rialp, J., & Knight, G. A. (2005). The phenomenon of early internationalizing firms: what do we know afer a decade (1993–2003) of scientific inquiry? International Business Review, 14(2), 147–166.
  • Ripollés-Meliá, M., Menguzzato-Boulard, M., & Sánchez-Peinado, L. (2007). Entrepreneurial orientation and international commitment. Journal International Entrepreneurship, 5(3–4), 65–83.
  • Ruzzier, M., Antoncic, B., Hisrich, R. D., & Konecnik, M. (2007). Human capital and SME internationalization: a structural equation modeling study. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 24(1), 15–29.
  • Santos-Alvarez, V., & Garcia-Merino, T. (2010). The role of the entrepreneur in identifying international expansión as a strategic opportunity. International Journal of Information Management, 30(6), 512–520.
  • Schumpeter, J. A. (1942). Capitalism, socialism and democracy. London: George Allen & Unwin.
  • Shane, S. (2012). Reflections on the 2010 AMR decade award: delivering on the promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review, 37(1), 21–33.
  • Shaw, V., & Darroch, J. (2004). Barriers to internationalisation: a study of entrepreneurial new ventures in New Zealand. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 2(4), 327–343.
  • Shook, C. (2003). Venture creation and the enterprising individual: a review and synthesis. Journal of Management, 29(3), 379–399.
  • Simon, M., Houghton, S. M., & Aquino, K. (1999). Cognitive biases, risk perception, and venture formation: how individuals start new companies. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(2), 115–134.
  • Sternberg, R., & Wennekers, A. R. M. (2005). Determinants and effects of new business creation using global entrepreneurship monitor data. Small Business Economics, 24(3), 205–231.
  • Storey, D. (1996). Understanding the small business sector. London: Routledge.
  • Vaghely, I., & Julien, P. (2010). Are opportunities recognized or constructed? An information perspective on entrepreneurial opportunity identification. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(1), 73–86.
  • Venkataraman, N. (1989). Strategic orientation of business enterprises: the construct, dimensionality, and measurement. Management Science, 35(8), 942–962.
  • Wakelin, K. (1998). Innovation and export behaviour at the firm level. Research Policy, 26(7–8), 829–841.
  • Warhuus, J. P. (1999). Risk and uncertainty in entrepreneurial decision making and resource acquisition. Odense: Det Samfundsmaessige Facultet, Syddansk Universitet.
  • Westhead, P., Wright, M., & Ucbasaran, D. (2001). The internationalization of new and small firms: a resource-based view. Journal of Business Venturing, 16(4), 333–358.
  • Westney, E. D., & Zaheer, S. (2008). The multinational enterprise as an organization. In A. M. Rugman (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of international business. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Wiklund, J., & Shepherd, D. (2003). Knowledge-based resources, entrepreneurial orientation, and the performance of small and medium-sized business. Strategic Management Journal, 24(13), 1307–1314.
  • Wiklund, J., & Shepherd, D. (2005). Entrepreneurial orientation and small business performance: a configurational approach. Journal of Business Venturing, 20(1), 71–91.
  • Yamakawa, Y., Peng, M. W., & Deeds, D. L. (2008). What drives new ventures to internationalize from emerging to developed economies? Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 32(1), 59–89.
  • Zaheer, S., & Mosakowski, E. (1997). The dynamics of the liability of foreignness: a global study of survival in financial services. Strategic Management Journal, 18(6), 436–439.
  • Zahra, S. A. (2005). A theory of international new ventures: a decade of research. Journal of International Business Studies, 36(1), 20–28.
  • Zahra, S. A., Korri, J. S., & Yu, J. F. (2005). Cognition and international entrepreneurship: implications for research on international opportunity recognition and exploitation. International Business Review, 14(2), 129–146.
  • Zhou, L., Barnes, B. R., & Lu, Y. (2010). Entrepreneurial proclivity, capability upgrading and performance advantage of newness among international new ventures. Journal of International Business Studies, 41(5), 882–905.