Regional support for internationalization of SMEs – case study of the Autonomous Region of Valencia

• Autorzy: Szulc Tomasz

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.29119/1641-3466.2020.148.53

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Purpose: The objective of the paper is to identify the activities, interorganizational relations among implementing institutions and formulas of their financing, in order to facilitate access to international markets by small and medium-sized enterprises. Design/methodology/approach: Methodology of the paper comprises critical literature review on internationalization, interviews with the representatives of institutions rendering services form SMEs (regional administration and the Chamber of Commerce) as a part of a case study, as well as observation. Theoretical framework of the paper was prepared with a use of critical literature review. Analysis of the business environment of Valencia Autonomous Region was prepared with the application of observation conducted by the author and analysis of secondary sources, mainly regional statistics. The main part of the research was conducted with the use of direct interviews with the employees of the regional and municipal administration and business support organizations. Findings: The literature provides a variety of definitions and paradigms of internationalization. Only a minor part is exercised in practice by the businesses. The majority follows the internationalization path determined in the Uppsala model, however SMEs do not rather proceed to foreign direct investments. Based on the interviews it was determined, that the regional authorities of Valencia provide a range of support services, concentrating financial resources on practically three of them which demonstrate the highest effectiveness and lead to best results in terms of increase of share of exports in the regional GDP. Research limitations/implications: Due to confidentiality, financial indicators concerning public spending, financial participation, as well as the names and respective shares of export net sales revenues were not revealed by the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. Practical implications: Identified services may be used as a best practice for similar organisations (regional government, business support units) for designing their local mutations of export supporting services. Originality/value: The paper is a comprehensive analysis of public services supporting regional exports and their conformance with the theoretical models of internationalization.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

internationalization; support services; business development; Uppsala model

PL

internacjonalizacja; usługi wsparcia; rozwój biznesu; model uppsalski

• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej
• Czasopismo: Zeszyty Naukowe. Organizacja i Zarządzanie / Politechnika Śląska
• Rocznik: 2020
• Tom: z. 148
• Strony: 719--734
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 32 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Szulc Tomasz

• Silesian University of Technology. Department of Management and Logistics

Bibliografia

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