This article explores learning among rapidly internationalizing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and how this supports the post-internationalization growth and survival of these firms. We utilize a qualitative multiple case study approach of ten information and communication technology (ICT) SMEs from a key emerging market—India. Findings suggest that during the post-entry stage, rapidly internationalizing SMEs use a wide range of internal and external sources of knowledge. External sources of knowledge include peer networks, associations in the same industry, international clients/partners, and international connections developed through trade fairs and trade missions. Internal sources of knowledge such as self-learning, especially from trial-and-error and experiential efforts, were found to enhance product, market and technological knowledge; and consequently aided geographic and product diversification. The findings also indicate that firms use a mix of integrated, vicarious, congenital and experiential learning approaches in their post-entry growth and survival phases. Experiential and congenital learning were found to be facilitated by firms’ internal network sources, whereas external network sources provide an ideal platform for vicarious learning. The study provides new insights into networking and learning by providing evidence that exposure to and connection with diverse types of networks can result in various forms of valuable learning for rapidly internationalizing SMEs, which enhances their post-entry growth.

中文翻译：

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中小企业如何快速国际化学习？探索新兴市场中迅速国际化的中小企业的网络关系，学习方法与入职后增长之间的联系

本文探讨了在快速国际化的中小型企业（SME）中的学习，以及这如何支持这些企业在国际化后的发展和生存。我们采用定性多案例研究方法，对来自关键新兴市场（印度）的十家信息和通信技术（ICT）中小企业进行了研究。研究结果表明，在进入后阶段，迅速国际化的中小型企业使用了广泛的内部和外部知识资源。外部知识来源包括同仁网络，同一个行业的协会，国际客户/合作伙伴以及通过交易会和贸易代表团建立的国际联系。人们发现内部学习的知识来源，例如自学，尤其是通过反复试验和经验努力而获得的知识，可以增强产品，市场和技术知识；因此，有助于地理和产品多样化。研究结果还表明，企业在进入后的成长和生存阶段会使用综合，替代，先天和体验式学习方法。发现企业内部网络资源有助于体验式学习和先天性学习，而外部网络资源为替代学习提供了理想的平台。这项研究通过提供证据表明，接触和连接各种类型的网络可以为快速国际化的中小企业带来各种形式的有价值的学习，从而促进中小型企业的国际化，从而增强其入职后的成长速度。进入后成长和生存阶段的替代，先天和体验式学习方法。人们发现，企业的内部网络资源有助于体验式学习和先天性学习，而外部网络资源为替代学习提供了理想的平台。这项研究通过提供证据表明，接触和连接各种类型的网络可以为快速国际化的中小企业带来各种形式的有价值的学习，从而促进中小型企业的国际化，从而增强其入职后的成长速度。进入后成长和生存阶段的替代，先天和体验式学习方法。发现企业内部网络资源有助于体验式学习和先天性学习，而外部网络资源为替代学习提供了理想的平台。这项研究通过提供证据表明，接触和连接各种类型的网络可以为快速国际化的中小企业带来各种形式的有价值的学习，从而促进中小型企业的国际化，从而增强其入职后的成长速度。