Smes’ Internationalization: An Unlinear Expansion, Between De-Internationalization and Re-Internationalization
This article analyses SMEs’ unlinear internationalization paths. The multiple case-study conducted with four French manufacturing SMEs highlights the existence of a variety of paths characterized by different rythms and levels of commitment. The internationalization of those SMEs is made of a succession of commitments and withdrawal on foreign markets. More precisely, our research reveals the existence of epochs of internationalization of varying length, initiated by different internal or external critical events. Learning, resilience and the entrepreneur’s international orientation are among the main elements shaping SMEs’ internationalization path.