Business Networks: Drivers or Obstacles to the Internationalization of SMES in China?
Business networks play a key role in SMEs’ internationalization, notably in emerging countries like China. They allow them to bypass the barriers faced due to their limited size and to access to new business opportunities. Few studies have been conducted on the difficulties faced by SMEs due to their networks. The longitudinal study conducted on a SME having a subsidiary in China shows that using networks can lead to dependency, internal tensions and high costs. Being suc-cessful in China depends upon the SME’s capability to diversify its networks and select the right Chinese middleman.