The Review on the Theory of Internationalization of Multinational Firms and SMEs

Purpose - to examine the theories related to the internationalization of multinational corporations as well as theories related to internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises. Research design, data, and methodology - traditional theories, e.g. eclectic paradigm and behavioral theory and product life cycle etc. were examined and recent advances theories - network theory, entrepreneurship - were also examined to outline the theory of internationalization of firm. Results - the main schools of international researches are divided into two; one is the economics school, the other is the behavioral school. The economics school has considered internationalization as a pattern of investment in foreign markets explained by rational economic analysis of internalization, ownership, and location advantages. Apart from the economics approach, a theory relevant to smaller firms highlights slow and incremental overseas market commitment. Recent research on the network perspective is fast emerging and it can be applied and well explained on the internationalization of smaller firms, focusing on firm behavior in the context of a network of interorganizational and inter-personal relationships Conclusions - Small medium-sized enterprises have been recently rising, however, there has still been little consolidation of literature in internationalization and most of the relevant theories have been still focusing on explaining the globalization of multinational corporations. Little studied on the internationalization in the context of smaller firms which are distinctly differentiated from larger firms including international new ventures, which the motivation to study strongly calls for more information and studied on small medium-sized enterprises.