Internationalization process of Iranian SMEs with a special focus on e-commerce

Abstract: As barriers to globalization continue to fade, competing globally is not an
option, but an economic imperative. While internet allow even the smallest
firm’s access to customers, suppliers, and collaborators around the world,
it is also believed that e-commerce capabilities are likely to become
influential to determining developing country producers' export success.
The purpose of this study is "To gain better understanding on
internationalization processes of Iranian SMEs with a special focus on the
e-commerce”. It has been done through a quantitative study by performing a
survey containing 120 questionnaires. Categorization of firms based on
their age and export involvement have yield to describe the
internationalization process of Iranian SMEs in a clearer sense in terms of
some attributes. The findings show the great emergent of Born Globals among
Iranian SMEs although their internationalization processes are more likely
same as predictions of traditional models. Also the results of this study
conforms the contribution between e-commerce and some of the
internationalization process attributes.