Open this publication in new window or tab >>2014 (English)In: Journal of Asia Business Studies, ISSN 1558-7894, Vol. 8, no 1, p. 29-42Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the establishments of Chinese wholesale and retail market platforms in China and Europe, creating a new takeoff route for SMEs from China, and to theorize on this as a new collective route to internationalization.
Methodology – An exploratory case study has been undertaken covering four Chinese market platforms: the role model in Yiwu, China, and the establishments in Warsaw, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; and Kalmar, Sweden.
Findings – A new collective internationalization route is identified, driven by the collectivistic Chinese culture. Here Chinese SMEs diverge from traditionally suggested paths of internationalization, taking off independently from the domestic business network but form a joint market platform in the foreign market. This collective behavior compensates for the resource constraints of internationally inexperienced Chinese SMEs. From the market platform, they plug into the local market network and are provided with economies of scale and scope, ultimately making them internationally competitive. This collective route offers the potential for joint learning and risk reduction when entering distant markets in the early internationalization stages.
Originality/value – The paper reports on an overlooked empirical phenomenon, namely the establishment of Chinese wholesale and retail market platforms in China and Europe. Through this establishment a new collective route into the global market by Chinese SMEs is identified and theorized.
Keywords – Collective Internationalization Processes; Market Entry Modes and Nodes; Motives of Internationalization; Market Platforms; Chinese SMEs
Paper type – Research paper
Keywords
Collective internationalization processes, market entry modes and nodes, motives of internationalization, market platform, Chinese SMEs
National Category
Economics and Business
Research subject
Economy, Business administration; Economy, Marketing
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-17724 (URN)10.1108/JABS-09-2012-0043 (DOI)000213857000003 ()2-s2.0-84992957286 (Scopus ID)
Note
I den tryckta avhandlingen ingår en tidigare version (ett manuskript).
2012-02-222012-02-222022-12-16Bibliographically approved