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Multilevel psychic distance and its impact on SME internationalization

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  • Safari, Aswo
  • Chetty, Sylvie

Abstract

We expand the conceptualization of psychic distance and use a multilevel framework by studying it as a founder’s psychic distance in the pre-entry phase of entering a specific foreign market, and the SMEs (firm) psychic distance in the post-entry phase of entering that specific foreign market. Based on qualitative research involving six SMEs’ with 18 internationalization events, we found that psychic distance at country and business levels causes difficulties for SMEs in the post-entry phase because of their lack of knowledge. Bridge-makers possessing knowledge about target markets help SMEs to overcome psychic distance challenges. Trust in the relationship with the bridge-maker is an important ingredient to gain knowledge that alleviates the SMEs’ psychic distance challenges. Finally, we go beyond country-business levels of psychic distance by showing that psychic distance also matters at bridge-maker level. This relates to their lack of knowledge about the target market and SMEs’ routines.

Suggested Citation

  • Safari, Aswo & Chetty, Sylvie, 2019. "Multilevel psychic distance and its impact on SME internationalization," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 754-765.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:754-765
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2019.03.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Zahoor, Nadia & Al-Tabbaa, Omar, 2021. "Post-entry internationalization speed of SMEs: The role of relational mechanisms and foreign market knowledge," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    2. Xiyao Xiang & Wei-Chiao Huang, 2019. "Does Distance Affect the Role of Nonlocal Subsidiaries on Cluster Firms’ Innovation? An Empirical Investigation on Chinese Biotechnology Cluster Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Sadeghi, Arash & Aliasghar, Omid & Bouguerra, Abderaouf, 2023. "Unpacking the relationship between post-entry speed of internationalization and export performance of SMEs: A capability-building perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(1).
    4. Donbesuur, Francis & Zahoor, Nadia & Al-Tabbaa, Omar & Adomako, Samuel & Tarba, Shlomo Y., 2023. "On the performance of platform-based international new ventures: The roles of non-market strategies and managerial competencies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    5. Wang, Qiu & Clegg, Jeremy & Mattos, Hanna Gajewska-De & Buckley, Peter J., 2023. "It’s personal: The emotional dimension of psychic distance perception in intercultural knowledge transfer," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    6. Younis, Heba & Dimitratos, Pavlos & Elbanna, Said, 2022. "International entrepreneurial SMEs in the muslim world: The role of religion in the GCC countries," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    7. Child, John & Karmowska, Joanna & Shenkar, Oded, 2022. "The role of context in SME internationalization – A review," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(1).
    8. Bruno F. Abrantes, 2020. "Are Neoclassic Internationalization Models Enduring? A Case-Review of the Uppsala Paradigm," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    9. Zamira Ataniyazova & Barry A. Friedman & Prabha Kiran, 2022. "New corporate social responsibility brand evaluation in a developing country: Uzbekistan," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Jelena Cerar & Benoit Decreton & Phillip C. Nell, 2023. "What's in a Name? How Senior Managers use Name‐Based Heuristics to Allocate Financial Resources in Multinational Corporations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1147-1177, July.
    11. Manuel Jose Oyson, 2020. "Compressed internationalisation: New internationalisation behaviour of small New Zealand firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 444-472, December.
    12. Fonfara Krzysztof & Hauke-Lopes Aleksandra & Soniewicki Marcin, 2021. "Does Psychic Distance Still Matter? Empirical Evidence from Poland," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 29(4), pages 32-56, December.
    13. Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine & Onjewu, Adah-Kole Emmanuel & Nowiński, Witold & Jones, Paul, 2021. "The determinants of SMEs’ export entry: A systematic review of the literature," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 262-278.

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