Title: Exploring firms' early internationalisation from a cognitive perspective: a conceptual model

Authors: Jose Maria Gomez-Gras, Domingo Rafael Galiana Lapera, Ignacio Mira-Solves, Antonio Jose Verdu-Jover, Javier Sancho-Azuar

Addresses: Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Avda. de la Universidad s/n 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain. ' Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Avda. de la Universidad s/n 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain. ' Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Avda. de la Universidad s/n 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain. ' Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Avda. de la Universidad s/n 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain. ' Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Avda. de la Universidad s/n 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain

Abstract: Internationalisation has been widely explored due to its importance in both organisational and regional development. Nevertheless, so far, no complete and well-supported theory of cross-border entrepreneurial behaviour exists. Recently, some studies indicate that important findings and shifts in international entrepreneurship research can occur by applying a cognitive perspective. This paper proposes a conceptual model for exploring the cognitive dimension of the early internationalisation of ventures, relying on the intentional patterns of this behaviour as well as on its antecedents and determinants. The proposed model may also serve as a bridge to link the past theoretical approaches that have usually been viewed as contradictory.

Keywords: international entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial cognition; venture creation; global startups; early internationalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSB.2009.022758

International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.186 - 200

Published online: 26 Jan 2009 *

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