Methods to assess the extent of internationalization of enterprises

As of today, a single approach to assessing the extent of internationalization and comprehensive studies summarizing most approaches to determine the extent of internationalization and establish the relationship between different approaches and different aspects of internationalization are both missing. The study aims to summarize the existing approaches to evaluation of internationalization, classification, into separate groups, of indicators used to determine the extent of inter-nationalization, and to prove advantages and disadvantages of using certain individual approaches (indicators) to assessing the extent of internationalization. The indicators used to assess the extent of internationalization are classified into 6 separate groups, the methodologies for calculating the main indicators are detailed, and advantages and disadvantages of their use are studied. The authors have tested separate groups of indicators to assessing the extent of internationalization both of enterprises in developing and transition economies, and of major world companies. A correlation between the performances of individual groups is established and it is proven that individual basic parameters are used to calculate other sets of indicators, whose methods of calculation are based on comprehensive approach. Systematization of the existing approaches to evaluation of the extent of internationalization and classification of indicators used to determine the extent of internationalization will provide a more complete formation of the knowledge base for the development of methods to evaluate the extent of internationalization of the enterprises, and justifying the advantages and disadvantages of individual indicators (indicator sets) would allow evaluation of internationalization for a wider range of characteristics.