Identifying Entrepreneurs' Mental Patterns in Facilitating the Speed of Internationalization

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Prof, Department of Management, Faculty of Humanities, Hazrat Masoumeh University, Qom, Iran.

2 MSc., Department of Business Management, Faculty of Humanities, Hazrat Masoumeh University, Qom, Iran.

10.22059/jibm.2024.362971.4626

Abstract

Objective
Over the past two decades, rapid internationalization has become increasingly important due to the expansion of global trade, shifting consumption and demand patterns, advancements in information technology, and the growing number and quality of local and international competitors. Facilitating rapid internationalization enables businesses to capture a larger market share than their competitors. The purpose of this research is to identify entrepreneurs' mental patterns regarding facilitating the speed of internationalization.
 
Methodology
This research is applied in purpose, exploratory in nature, descriptive-survey in data collection, and mixed-method (quantitative-qualitative) due to the application of the Q methodology. To collect the information needed to form the Q study discourse space, many different sources can be used. In this research, both primary and secondary sources were used to collect statements related to the discourse space. Interviews with several managers and experts were conducted to gather information on the factors influencing the speed of internationalization among Abadan entrepreneurs. Abadan, a city in Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran, was the focus of this study. To identify entrepreneurs' mindsets regarding the facilitation of internationalization, 10 participants—including managers, consultants, and experts from entrepreneurial companies in Abadan—were purposefully selected using non-probability sampling. These individuals were expected to have valuable insights and perspectives relevant to the research topic. Therefore, the participants in this research were selected based on their "close relationship with the research topic," "beneficiary status," and the "importance of their presence in the research." SPSS software was used to analyze the collected data, employing factor analysis and interpreting the extracted factors.
 
Findings
After evaluating and summarizing the conceptual framework, 41 Q statements were selected from a pool of 85 Q statements as a sample (Q set) following a survey of experts. After collecting the information from the Q sorting process, the data was analyzed using the Q factor analysis method. The distribution analysis revealed that three distinct mental patterns could be identified among the research participants regarding the factors influencing the facilitation of internationalization speed in entrepreneurial companies, which together explained approximately 66.35% of the total variance.
 
Conclusion
The three identified mental patterns were named "Leading Agile Builders," "Risk-Taking Relationship Builders," and "Creative Innovators." The importance and prioritization of the identified factors were determined based on these mental patterns, and finally, solutions were proposed to address the identified factors. In general, various studies have been conducted on internationalization and its speed. Most of these studies have focused on the factors affecting internationalization and its pace. However, the factors that facilitate the speed of internationalization have received limited attention. Previous researchers have offered differing views on the importance of facilitating the speed of internationalization, with only a few quantitative studies exploring factors such as intelligence and creativity and their influence on facilitating this speed. This research not only identifies the factors that influence the facilitation of internationalization speed but also examines individuals' mindsets regarding this facilitation. Therefore, this study contributes new insights to the literature on business management and international business.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 
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Journal of Business Management
Volume 17, Issue 1
2025
Pages 171-200

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