Tackling business model challenges in SME internationalization through digitalization
2022 (English)In: Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, ISSN 2530-7614, E-ISSN 2444-569X, Vol. 7, no 3, article id 100199Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Many SMEs aim for business development by diversifying their offerings to fit global markets. However, internationalization has consequences for all aspects of a company's business model. Even though internationalization poses many business model challenges, the recent development of digital technology is a key enabler of resource-efficient internationalization and business development, an innovation that SMEs find accommodating. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how digitalization can help to surmount the business model challenges associated with SME internationalization. This paper builds on an exploratory case study of 29 SMEs who have an internationalization strategy and are from sparsely populated areas in Finland and Sweden. For the data analysis, the first-order codes of different business model challenges of SME internationalization have been merged into second-order themes. The final step of the analysis involved ascertaining the overarching dimensions of these business model challenges. This paper identifies business model challenges related to value creation, delivery, and capture throughout the internationalization process. In addition, a framework is developed that matches digitalization activities with the business model challenges. Because there is no “one fits all” solution, this study matches specific digitalization activities with business model challenges that SMEs face when attempting to operate in international markets. These findings are important because they dissect digitalization into executable activities that SMEs find manageable.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2022. Vol. 7, no 3, article id 100199
Keywords [en]
SMEs, Internationalization, Digitalization, Business models, Value creation, Value capture
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-90626DOI: 10.1016/j.jik.2022.100199ISI: 000799311700001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85129920756OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-90626DiVA, id: diva2:1657855
Note
Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-05-12 (johcin);
Funder: Interreg Botnia-Atlantica; Interreg Nord
2022-05-122022-05-122022-06-03Bibliographically approved