Export development of Taiwanese food and beverage processing SMEs: A test of a DOI model

This study uses a diffusion of innovation framework to examine how small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) export development is impacted by managerial perceptions of factors inhibiting or enhancing international activities. The focus on perceptions provides greater utility to the finding of this study, given the managerially controllable nature of the variables explored and the impetus on the long-term survival of the firm. A three-stage synthesized innovation diffusion model of internationalization is proposed and empirically tested via a survey of 172 managers of Taiwanese SMEs in the food and beverage processing sector. We profile the stages of export development by these SMEs and demonstrate the effect of managerial perceptions of inhibiting/enhancing factors on export stages and the moderating role of managerial commitment in the relationship between perceived inhibiting/enhancing factors and export stages. This paper adds to our understanding of factors that can facilitate SMEs' progression from pre-exporters to becoming established exporters. It concludes by discussing implications for international business scholars, managers, and policymakers.