Information support for the internationalization of small and medium-size enterprises in North Karelia region
Vorobyeva, Maria (2014)
Karelia-ammattikorkeakoulu (Pohjois-Karjalan ammattikorkeakoulu)
2014
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 1.0 Finland
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014112516659
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014112516659
Tiivistelmä
The aim of the study is to analyze how small and medium-size enterprises receive support from service organizations in the North Karelia Region to expand their businesses abroad.
The theoretical section of the thesis provides the main aspects of internationalization theory. It explains the relevant findings of the Uppsala model of internationalization and presents four stages in companies’ internationalization. It provides an overview of national and regional service organizations that provide support for SMEs locally and internationally.
The study results are based on a qualitative research which was conducted in North Karelia during the autumn of 2013 and the spring of 2014. The opinions of company managers and representatives of service organizations were studied via in-depth interviews. The respondents were chosen based on their knowledge of the internationalization process of SMEs and work experience in international coordination, export or selling activities in the company. The study showed that Josek, Joensuu Science Park and the Ely Center provide information support to the SMEs based on their stage of internationalization and information needs. However, all this support from organizations means little if the products produced by SMEs do not have a competitive advantage on the global market.
The theoretical section of the thesis provides the main aspects of internationalization theory. It explains the relevant findings of the Uppsala model of internationalization and presents four stages in companies’ internationalization. It provides an overview of national and regional service organizations that provide support for SMEs locally and internationally.
The study results are based on a qualitative research which was conducted in North Karelia during the autumn of 2013 and the spring of 2014. The opinions of company managers and representatives of service organizations were studied via in-depth interviews. The respondents were chosen based on their knowledge of the internationalization process of SMEs and work experience in international coordination, export or selling activities in the company. The study showed that Josek, Joensuu Science Park and the Ely Center provide information support to the SMEs based on their stage of internationalization and information needs. However, all this support from organizations means little if the products produced by SMEs do not have a competitive advantage on the global market.