CFP: Internationalization of SMEs (EJIM)

[entrepreneurship-phd at lists.uni-due.de]

CALL FOR PAPERS
European Journal of International Management
Special Issue on Internationalization of SMEs
 
Guest Editors:
David B. Audretsch, University of Indiana - USA;
Domingo Ribeiro Soriano, University of Valencia - Spain
and Daniel Palacios Marqués, Technical University Valencia - Spain

Small and medium-sized organizations are the most common type of firm found in today's global economy. Porter indicated that the success of SMEs, under the effects of globalization, depended on the formulation and implementation of strategies. SMEs are increasingly facing similar international problems as those of larger firms. However in recent years it has been widely demonstrated that small and medium-sized organizations can adapt more easily to changes in the environment due to their more manageable size and can compete perfectly with large organizations through specialization and networks provided by new technology. As a result, today's companies have to respond to markets at an increasingly faster pace and are forced to play a role in international markets.
 
Internationalization can take many forms, such as imports, exports, foreign direct investment or international collaboration, in order to access know-how or technology. Several international studies have indicated that internationalization is often accompanied by improved performance and competitiveness in SMEs, since internationalization provides opportunities to improve productivity and increase their chances of survival.
 
Changes that have affected the market and businesses, such as the sweeping tide of globalization, must be analyzed and documented in the near future so that the empirical studies and theories expounded in this special issue may constitute a guide for researchers, scholars, consultants, entrepreneurs, businessmen, managers, government agencies, policy makers and practitioners pertaining to a multi-disciplinary forum in the fields of management and business.
 
The main aim of this issue is to analyze the current state of the relationship between Internationalization and SMEs in the face of new factors that characterize today's international economic climate. The issue will deal with the diverse and complex characteristics of internationalization in small organizations that lead to competitiveness in the face of the effects of globalization.
 
Subject Coverage
 
Examples of topics appropriate to the theme of internationalization in SMEs include:
* Interfaces between internationalization and small business, and vice-versa in the present global market.
* Knowledge Management and internationalization in SMEs.
* Internationalization as an economic development strategy for small organizations.
* Educational internationalization in small business.
* Institutional aid and policy initiatives to internationalization in small organizations.
* Small business and international networks.
* Promoting internationalization in emerging economies.
* Specific management practices that small organizations need to utilize to achieve international activities.
* Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of internationalization in SMEs.
* Internationalization and its relation to human resources in small business.
* Ethical context of internationalization in small business.
* Small franchisor organizations.
* Internationalization in the small not-for-profit sector.
* Implications of management in the international small public-sector.
* Comparison of internationalization of SMEs in countries.
* Internationalization training for emerging small organizations.
* Internationalization in microenterprises.
* New tendencies and research in internationalization and small business.
* Similarities and differences in the internationalization of SMEs and the specific factors affecting them.
 
Notes for Authors
Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All papers are refereed through a peer review process.  A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page (http://www.inderscience.com/mapper.php?id=31).
 
Important Dates
Draft submission deadline: September 15, 2011 
Final paper submission deadline:  December 15, 2011
Publication release: October 2012
 
Editors and Notes
You may send one copy in the form of an MS Word file attached to an e-mail (details in Author Guidelines) to:
Domingo Ribeiro Soriano
Facultad de Economía de la Universitat de València
Edificio Departamental Oriental
Campus de los Naranjos
46021 Valencia
SPAIN
Telephone: +34963828312
Email: domingo.ribeiro at uv.es 
 
and
 
Daniel Palacios-Marques
Department of Management
Technical University Valencia
Camino Vera s/n
46022 Valencia
Spain
Telephone: +34 638359404
Email: dapamar at doe.upv.es 
 
With an email copy only to: 
EJIM Editorial Team
Email: editors at ejim-global.org 
and
IEL Editorial Office
Email: ejim at inderscience.com 
 
Please include in your submission the title of the Special Issue, the title of the Journal and the name of the three Guest Editors.