Purpose

Operating in a variety of countries, multinational companies (MNCs) experience a high variety and variability of physiological and contextual dynamics, requiring a more careful knowledge management approach. In this scenario, this paper aims to investigate the entrepreneurial facets and managerial aspects (entrepreneurial orientation/managerial intentionality) of MNCs’ internationalization from a knowledge-based perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A theory-building approach is applied, involving a comparative case study of two MNCs conceived through the separation of a unique family business. Aiming to enrich the research about companies’ internationalization, some crucial elements are individuated to build a theoretical frame explaining the evolutionary paths of so-called born global.

Findings

This paper shows that companies’ internationalization development is based on a multiplicity of variables and underlines the need to incorporate different points of view when attempting to explain the dynamics of internationalization processes.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical significance of the two cases does not legitimize theorization. However, this research presents interesting results that could be strengthened by a series of comparative case studies dealing with other MNCs or deeper quantitative investigation.

Originality/value

This research approach could be considered as stimulating by the scientific and managerial community, as the internationalization process is articulated by mixing managerial, entrepreneurial and cognitive aspects.

中文翻译：

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天生兄弟，天生全球化：国际化道路的多种可能面

目的

在多个国家/地区开展业务的跨国公司 (MNC) 会经历生理和环境动态的高度多样性和可变性，因此需要更加谨慎的知识管理方法。在这种情况下，本文旨在从基于知识的角度调查跨国公司国际化的创业方面和管理方面（创业取向/管理意向）。

设计/方法/方法

应用了一种理论构建方法，包括对通过分离独特的家族企业而构想的两家跨国公司的比较案例研究。为了丰富对公司国际化的研究，对一些关键要素进行了个体化，构建了一个理论框架来解释所谓的“天生全球”的演化路径。

发现

本文表明，公司的国际化发展基于多种变量，并强调在试图解释国际化进程的动态时需要结合不同的观点。

研究限制/影响

这两个案例的经验意义并没有使理论化合法化。然而，这项研究提出了有趣的结果，可以通过一系列处理其他跨国公司的比较案例研究或更深入的定量调查来加强这些结果。

原创性/价值

这种研究方法可以被认为是受到科学和管理界的刺激，因为国际化过程是通过混合管理、创业和认知方面来表达的。