This paper contributes theoretical understanding to the learning processes adopted by firms for successful internationalization. Drawing from the internationalization process and organizational learning research, our longitudinal case study examines a firm’s learning processes as it grows internationally. In different phases and in different areas the firm learned at different paces, gradual and steep, and by responding retrospectively to past failings, and prospectively to anticipated challenges. From case data we identify and develop four constructs of internationalization learning: Gradual Retrospective, Steep Retrospective, Gradual Prospective, and Steep Prospective learning. The appropriateness of each depends on the urgency towards addressing challenges, and the firm’s learning capabilities. Firms can develop and steepen retrospective learning capability, enabling rapid identification and response to internationalization problems. Firms can also employ prospective learning to plan the development of knowledge capabilities ahead of future internationalization activity, to accelerate their learning, and increase the speed and effectiveness of internationalization.

本文为企业成功实现国际化所采用的学习过程提供了理论上的理解。通过国际化过程和组织学习研究，我们的纵向案例研究考察了公司在国际范围内的成长过程。在不同的阶段和不同的领域，公司通过对过去的失败以及对预期的挑战的回顾性响应，以不同的速度，渐进和陡峭地学习。从案例数据中，我们确定并开发了四种国际化学习的结构：渐进式回顾，陡峭式回顾，渐进式和陡峭式学习。每种方法的适当性取决于应对挑战的紧迫性以及公司的学习能力。企业可以开发和增强追溯学习能力，从而可以快速识别和应对国际化问题。公司还可以采用前瞻性学习来计划未来的国际化活动之前知识能力的发展，以加快学习速度，并提高国际化的速度和有效性。