Exploring the determinants of the internationalisation pathways of family firms

Abstract

Because of the limited research into the internationalisation process of family firms, little is known about their international behaviour. Based on an examination the internationalisation process of the eight family firms from their foundation to the present time, key determinants of the internationalisation pathways (traditional vs. born-again global) taken by family firms were identified. These included the level of commitment towards internationalisation, the financial resources available and the ability to commit and use those financial resources to develop the required capabilities. The implications for family businesses and future research are discussed in the paper.