Researching the internationalisation of SMEs in the Czech Republic: Some initial considerations

článek ve sborníku ve WoS nebo Scopus

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Although some would argue otherwise, the importance of SMEs for a country's economic development has been widely recognised in the academic literature and elsewhere. SMEs provide much by way of innovation and employment opportunities for a country's citizens, in addition to forming an important source of domestic wealth creation and a thriving domestic business sector. In particular, transformation economies depend on SMEs for economic growth, the generation of a vigorous private sector to replace or restructure former state-owned firms and in engagement with global markets. Successful domestic SMEs also have the effect of balancing – in part at least – FDI inflows through investment by foreign-owned firms. Following a discussion of SME activity in transformation economies, this paper addresses relevant theoretical aspects of internationalisation and addresses particular aspects of Czech SME development as an example of transformation economy SME internationalisation. This paper also sets the foundation for a larger-scale research project, which will examine the process of Czech SME internationalisation in detail.

Although some would argue otherwise, the importance of SMEs for a country's economic development has been widely recognised in the academic literature and elsewhere. SMEs provide much by way of innovation and employment opportunities for a country's citizens, in addition to forming an important source of domestic wealth creation and a thriving domestic business sector. In particular, transformation economies depend on SMEs for economic growth, the generation of a vigorous private sector to replace or restructure former state-owned firms and in engagement with global markets. Successful domestic SMEs also have the effect of balancing – in part at least – FDI inflows through investment by foreign-owned firms. Following a discussion of SME activity in transformation economies, this paper addresses relevant theoretical aspects of internationalisation and addresses particular aspects of Czech SME development as an example of transformation economy SME internationalisation. This paper also sets the foundation for a larger-scale research project, which will examine the process of Czech SME internationalisation in detail.

Internationalisation, SME, research, Czech republic

12.09.2002

Vilnius University

Vilnius, Lithuania

XXX

Second International Conference: Interantional Business in Transition Economies

256–267

11