Vol. 4 No. 3 (2018)
5th AIB-CEE 2018 Conference Proceedings | 9th ENTRE 2018 Conference Proceedings (Special Issue)

Articles

A literature review on firms’ internationalisation through e-commerce

Published 2018-09-12

  • Federica De Vanna
    • ,
  • Riccardo Resciniti
    • ,
  • Michela Matarazzo

Federica De Vanna
Università degli Studi del Sannio

Riccardo Resciniti
Università degli Studi del Sannio

Michela Matarazzo
Università degli Studi del Sannio

Abstract

The rise of e-commerce has brought considerable changes to the relationship between firms and consumers, especially within international business. Hence, understanding the use of such means for entering foreign markets has become critical for companies. However, the research on this issue is new and so it is important to evaluate what has been studied in the past. In this study, we conduct a systematic review of e-commerce and internationalisation studies to explicate how firms use e-commerce to enter new markets and to export. The studies are classified by theories and methods used in the literature. Moreover, we draw upon the internationalisation decision process (antecedent-strategies-consequences) to propose an integrative framework for understanding the role of e-commerce in internationalisation. We believe that the literature review will be a picture of the “status quo” and provide a useful basis for scholars and managerial decisions.

Keywords

e-commerce, international business strategies, literature review, entry mode decisions.

PDF

References

  1. Aiello, G. 2017. Products moving along channels, consumers cross channels. Mercati e Competitività, 1: 7-11.
  2. Ajmal, F., & Yasin, N. M. 2012. Model for electronic commerce adoption for small and medium sized enterprises. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 3(2): 90.
  3. Alcácer, J., Cantwell, J., & Piscitello, L. 2016. Internationalization in the information age: A new era for places, firms, and international business networks? Journal of International Business Studies, 47(5): 499-512.
  4. Azar, G., & Ciabuschi, F. 2017. Organizational innovation, technological innovation, and export performance: The effects of innovation radicalness and extensiveness. International Business Review, 26(2): 324-336.
  5. Bell, J., & Loane, S. 2010. ‘New-wave’ global firms: Web 2.0 and SME internationalisation. Journal of Marketing Management, 26(3-4): 213-229.
  6. Bianchi, C., & Mathews, S. 2016. Internet marketing and export market growth in Chile. Journal of Business Research, 69(2): 426-434.
  7. Brouthers, K. D., Geisser, K. D., & Rothlauf, F. 2016. Explaining the internationalization of ibusiness firms. Journal of International Business Studies, 47(5): 513-534.
  8. Camisón, C., & Villar-López, A. 2014. Organizational innovation as an enabler of technological innovation capabilities and firm performance. Journal of Business Research, 67(1): 2891-2902.
  9. Caputo, M., Fortuna, D., Michelino, F., & Rescinti, R. 2007. Market Orientation and Internet in Supply Chain Management: an Empirical Investigation. Mercati e Competitività, 3: 19-46.
  10. Carpenter, M. A., Geletkanycz, M. A., & Sanders, W. G. 2004. Upper echelons research revisited: Antecedents, elements, and consequences of top management team composition. Journal of Management, 30(6): 749-778.
  11. Cavusgil, S. T., & Knight, G. 2015. The born global firm: An entrepreneurial and capabilities perspective on early and rapid internationalization. Journal of International Business Studies, 46(1): 3-16.
  12. Chen, S., & Lamberti, L. 2016. Multichannel marketing: The operational construct and firms’ motivation to adopt. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 24(7): 594-616.
  13. Cheung, C. M., & Thadani, D. R. 2012. The impact of electronic word-of-mouth communication: A literature analysis and integrative model. Decision Support Systems, 54(1): 461-470.
  14. Dickinger, A., & Stangl, B. 2013. Website performance and behavioral consequences: A formative measurement approach. Journal of Business Research, 66(6): 771-777.
  15. Elbanna, S., Child, J., & Dayan, M. 2013. A model of antecedents and consequences of intuition in strategic decision-making: Evidence from Egypt. Long Range Planning, 46(1): 149-176.
  16. Fillis, I., Johannson, U., & Wagner, B. 2004. Factors impacting on e-business adoption and development in the smaller firm. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 10(3): 178-191.
  17. Galvagno, M. 2017. Bibliometric literature review: An opportunity for marketing scholars. Mercati & Competitività, 4: 7-15.
  18. Glavas, C., & Mathews, S. 2014. How international entrepreneurship characteristics influence internet capabilities for the international business processes of the firm. International Business Review, 23(1): 228-245.
  19. Gökmen, A. 2012. Virtual business operations, e-commerce & its significance and the case of Turkey: Current situation and its potential. Electronic Commerce Research, 12(1): 31-51.
  20. Grandon, E. E., & Pearson, J. M. 2004. Electronic commerce adoption: An empirical study of small and medium US businesses. Information & Management, 42(1): 197-216.
  21. Grandón, E. E., Nasco, S. A., & Mykytyn, P. P. 2011. Comparing theories to explain e-commerce adoption. Journal of Business Research, 64(3): 292-298.
  22. Gregory, G., Karavdic, M., & Zou, S. 2007. The effects of e-commerce drivers on export marketing strategy. Journal of International Marketing, 15(02): 30-57.
  23. Hilmersson, M., & Johanson, M. 2016. Speed of SME internationalization and performance. Management International Review, 56(1): 67-94.
  24. Hitt, M. A., Tihanyi, L., Miller, T., & Connelly, B. 2006. International diversification: Antecedents, outcomes, and moderators. Journal of Management, 32(6): 831-867.
  25. Hoehle, H., Scornavacca, E., & Huff, S. 2012. Three decades of research on consumer adoption and utilization of electronic banking channels: A literature analysis. Decision Support Systems, 54(1): 122-132.
  26. Johanson, M., & Kalinic, I. 2016. Acceleration and deceleration in the internationalization process of the firm. Management International Review, 56(6): 827-847.
  27. Johanson, J., & Vahlne, J. E. 1977. The internationalization process of the firm—a model of knowledge development and increasing foreign market commitments. Journal of International Business Studies, 8(1): 23-32.
  28. Kim, T. Y., Dekker, R., & Heij, C. 2017. Cross-Border Electronic Commerce: Distance Effects and Express Delivery in European Union Markets. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 21(2): 184-218.
  29. Klein, R., Wareham, J., & Cousins, K. 2011. Electronic intermediary functional roles and profitability. Decision Sciences, 42(2): 309-337.
  30. Kumar, S., Tiffany, M., & Vaidya, S. 2016. Supply chain analysis of e-tailing versus retailing operation – a case study. Enterprise Information Systems, 10(6): 639-665.
  31. Kurnia, S., Choudrie, J., Mahbubur, R. M., & Alzougool, B. 2015. E-commerce technology adoption: A Malaysian grocery SME retail sector study. Journal of Business Research, 68(9): 1906-1918.
  32. Lejpras, A. 2015. Knowledge, location, and internationalization: Empirical evidence for manufacturing SMEs. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 24(8): 734-754.
  33. Liu, H., Ke, W., Wei, K. K., & Hua, Z. 2013. The impact of IT capabilities on firm performance: The mediating roles of absorptive capacity and supply chain agility. Decision Support Systems, 54(3): 1452-1462.
  34. Mathews, S., Healy, M., & Wickramasekera, R. 2012. The internetalisation of information, knowledge, and interaction components of the firm's internationalisation process. Journal of Marketing Management, 28(5-6): 733-754.
  35. Ngai, E. W., & Gunasekaran, A. 2007. A review for mobile commerce research and applications. Decision Support Systems, 43(1): 3-15.
  36. Parvinen, P., Oinas-Kukkonen, H., & Kaptein, M. 2015. E-selling: A new avenue of research for service design and online engagement. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 14(4): 214-221.
  37. Peltier, J. W., Zhao, Y., & Schibrowsky, J. A. 2012. Technology adoption by small businesses: An exploratory study of the interrelationships of owner and environmental factors. International Small Business Journal, 30(4): 406-431.
  38. Perrigot, R., & Pénard, T. 2013. Determinants of e-commerce strategy in franchising: A resource-based view. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 17(3): 109-130.
  39. Pezderka, N., & Sinkovics, R. R. 2011. A conceptualization of e-risk perceptions and implications for small firm active online internationalization. International Business Review, 20(4): 409-422.
  40. Prasad, V. K., Ramamurthy, K., & Naidu, G. M. 2001. The influence of internet-marketing integration on marketing competencies and export performance. Journal of International Marketing, 9(4): 82-110.
  41. Ramanathan, R. 2010. E-commerce success criteria: Determining which criteria count most. Electronic Commerce Research, 10(2): 191-208.
  42. Resciniti, R., & Matarazzo, M. 2012. I nuovi mercati e le strategie di entrata delle medie imprese: evidenze e miti. Sinergie, 89: 209-230.
  43. Reuber, A. R., & Fischer, E. 2011. International entrepreneurship in internet-enabled markets. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(6): 660-679.
  44. Schu, M., Morschett, D., & Swoboda, B. 2016. Internationalization speed of online retailers: A resource-based perspective on the influence factors. Management International Review, 56(5): 733-757.
  45. Sedera, D., & Dey, S. 2013. User expertise in contemporary information systems: Conceptualization, measurement and application. Information & Management, 50(8): 621-637.
  46. Sila, I. 2013. Factors affecting the adoption of B2B e-commerce technologies. Electronic Commerce Research, 13(2): 199-236.
  47. Sinkovics, N., Sinkovics, R. R., & Bryan Jean, R. J. 2013. The internet as an alternative path to internationalization? International Marketing Review, 30(2): 130-155.
  48. Skudiene, V., Auruskeviciene, V., & Sukeviciute, L. 2015. Internationalization model revisited: E-marketing approach. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 213: 918-924.
  49. Sleuwaegen, L., & Onkelinx, J. 2014. International commitment, post-entry growth and survival of international new ventures. Journal of Business Venturing, 29(1): 106-120.
  50. Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. 1997. Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal: 509-533.
  51. Tolstoy, D., Jonsson, A., & Sharma, D. D. 2016. The influence of a retail firm’s geographic scope of operations on its international online sales. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 20(3): 293-318.
  52. Trainor, K. J., Andzulis, J. M., Rapp, A., & Agnihotri, R. 2014. Social media technology usage and customer relationship performance: A capabilities-based examination of social CRM. Journal of Business Research, 67(6): 1201-1208.
  53. Verhoef, P. C., Kannan, P. K., & Inman, J. J. 2015. From multi-channel retailing to omni-channel retailing: Introduction to the special issue on multi-channel retailing. Journal of Retailing, 91(2): 174-181.
  54. Vogel, R., & Güttel, W. H. 2013. The dynamic capability view in strategic management: A bibliometric review. International Journal of Management Review, 15(4): 426-446.
  55. Wang, S., & Cavusoglu, H. 2015. Small and medium sized manufacturer performance on third party B2B electronic marketplaces: The role of enabling and IT capabilities. Decision Support Systems, 79: 184-194.
  56. Wiengarten, F., Humphreys, P., Cao, G., & McHugh, M. 2013. Exploring the important role of organizational factors in IT business value: Taking a contingency perspective on the resource‐based view. International Journal of Management Review, 15(1): 30-46.
  57. Xia, Y., & Zhang, G. P. 2010. The impact of the online channel on retailers' performances: An empirical evaluation. Decision Sciences, 41(3): 517-546.
  58. Yamin, M., & Sinkovics, R. R. 2006. Online internationalisation, psychic distance reduction and the virtuality trap. International Business Review, 15(4): 339-360.
  59. Yeh, C. H., Lee, G. G., & Pai, J. C. 2012. How information system capability affects e-business information technology strategy implementation: An empirical study in Taiwan. Business Process Management Journal, 18(2): 197-218.
  60. Zhang, K. Z., & Benyoucef, M. 2016. Consumer behavior in social commerce: A literature review. Decision Support Systems, 86: 95-108.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

1-10 of 208

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.