Born Global Firms: A New International Enterprise

S. Tamer Cavusgil · Gary Knight

Aug 2009 · Business Expert Press

About this ebook

Born Global Firms describes companies that conduct international business at or near the founding of the firm. Despite the limited resources that usually characterize new businesses, these “Born Global” firms achieve substantial international sales from an early stage in their development. They internationalize rapidly—the period from domestic establishment to initial foreign market entry is often three or fewer years.

Born globals are emerging in sizable numbers worldwide. Until recently, international business was mainly the domain of large, well-resourced multinational enterprises (MNEs). The appearance of large numbers of born global firms is revolutionizing the traditional character of international business and helping reshape the global economy. This book helps managers and scholars understand the born global phenomenon.

We offer a comprehensive treatment of born globals, from distinctive features of these companies, to strategies that they use for international success, to implications of the phenomenon for international small- and medium-sized enterprises. We review useful theories and frameworks and introduce a new field based on the born global phenomenon international entrepreneurship. We provide a comprehensive literature review and an explanation of major theories that explain the born global firm. This complete guide to born global firms was written by leading experts in the field.

Specifically, we report on:

• The existence of born global firms around the world;
• Case studies of born global firms;
• Born globals as international small- and medium-sized enterprises;
• Facilitating factors in the emergence of born global firms;
• A literature review and key theories on born global firms for scholars;
• How the born global phenomenon challenges traditional internationalization theories;
• The critical role of entrepreneurial orientation in the emergence of born globals;
• Implications for managers of born globals and other small, internationalizing firms; and
• How born globals point to the future of international trade.

About the author

S. Tamer Cavusgil is Fuller E. Callaway Professional Chair and Director at the Institute of International Business, Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University. He is also an elected Fellow of the Academy of International Business. His areas of specialization include international marketing strategy, early internationalization, and emerging markets. His 2008 book, International Business: Strategy, Management, and the New Realities, co-authored with Gary Knight and John Riesenberger. Cavusgil served as the inaugural Editor of the Journal of International Marketing and he also edits for Advances in International Marketing.

Gary Knight is Associate Professor and Director of the Program in International Business at Florida State University, where he has won several awards for research and teaching. Professor Knight has extensive experience in international business in the private sector in Canada, Europe, Japan, and Mexico. He obtained his PhD at Michigan State University. He is a member of the Academy of International Business and the American Marketing Association. He has authored five books, including, co-authored by S. Tamer Cavusgil and John Riesenberger, and over one hundred refereed articles in academic journals and conference proceedings, including Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business and Journal of International Marketing. He worked as an executive in international business and marketing for several years prior to joining academia.