Abstract
This paper confirms a mapping between a taxonomy of entrepreneurs and what triggered Singaporeans to become exporters. The study involved interviews with 47 new exporters based in Singapore. Entrepreneurs were classified as either ‘opportunity seeking’ or ‘reactive’. Export triggers were either ‘pull’, negative ‘push’, or positive ‘push’. We find that those who were opportunity seeking at start-up were more likely to have responded to export ‘pull’ forces. It was rare indeed for a reactive founder to have been ‘pulled’ into exporting. Among this group of entrepreneurs, ‘push’ forces dominated the decision to export. The paper concludes with some implications for policy targeting and suggestions for further research.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
APEC (2008) Sustainable local development to foster SMEs growth. Joint Ministerial Statement from the 15th APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting. Ministerio de la Mujer y Desarrollo Social, Chiclayo, Peru
Bosma N, Harding R (2006) Global entrepreneurship monitor 2006: summary results. Babson College and London Business School, London
Czinkota M (2000) International marketing. In: Czinkota M et al (ed) Marketing: best practices. Dryden, Florida, pp 62–104
Dana L (1995) Entrepreneurship in a remote sub-Arctic community. Entrep Theory Pract 20(1):57–72
Dana L, Etemad H, Wright R (2000) The global reach of symbiotic networks. In: Dana L (ed) Global marketing co-operation and networks. International Business Press, New York, pp 1–10
Eisner EW (1991) The enlightened eye: qualitative inquiry and enhancement of educational practice. Macmillan, New York
Ibeh K (2003) Toward a contingency framework of export entrepreneurship: conceptualisations and empirical evidence. Small Bus Econ 20(1):49–68. doi:10.1023/A:1020244404241
Ibrahim A, McGuire J (2001) Technology transfer strategies for international entrepreneurs: a typology. Manage Int 6(1):75–85
Jones M, Coviello N (2005) Internationalisation: conceptualising an entrepreneurial process of behaviour in time. J Int Bus Stud 36(3):284–303. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400138
Luostarinen R, Gabrielsson M (2004) Finnish perspectives of international entrepreneurship. In: Dana L (ed) Handbook of research on international entrepreneurship. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham England, pp 383–403
McDougall P, Oviatt B (2000) International entrepreneurship: the intersection of two research paths. Acad Manage J 43(5):902–906. doi:10.2307/1556418
McNaughton R (2000) Determinants of time-span to foreign market entry. In: Dana L (ed) Global marketing co-operation and networks. International Business Press, New York, pp 99–111
Welch LS, Luostarinen R (1988) Internationalization: evolution of a concept. J Gen Manage 14(2):34–55
Westhead P, Wright M, Ucbasaran D (2001) The internationalisation of new and small firms: a resource-based view. J Bus Venturing 16(4):333–358. doi:10.1016/S0883-9026(99)00063-4
Acknowledgement
The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the four blind reviewers and the editor to the development of this paper. All the usual disclaimers apply.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dana, L.P., Hamilton, R.T. & Wick, K. Deciding to export: An exploratory study of Singaporean entrepreneurs. J Int Entrep 7, 79–87 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-008-0032-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-008-0032-8