Ongoing PhD project

Abstract

In this project, we unravel the multi-dimensionality and complexity of entrepreneurial intention and subsequent entrepreneurial behavior, with an explicit focus on internationalization. For this, we develop and test multi-dimensional entrepreneurial intention and internationalization models. We take on a contingency perspective and explicitly consider personal, firm and environmental level factors as contingent on the intention to start a business, and the company’s subsequent international strategic orientation and performance. We ground our analytical framework and subsequent variable selection in the Theory of Planned Behavior (entrepreneurial intention) and Uppsala internationalization model (internationalization behavior), and carefully select variables that have been found relevant to an entrepreneur’s reaction to, and dealing with, uncertainty. We execute tailor-made surveys and interviews, and adopt secondary information from existing databases to execute multi-dimensional contingency fit models. As such, we estimate the effect of the complicated web of interrelationships among the set of determinants of entrepreneurial intentions and subsequent internationalization behavior.

Funding 

BOF-DOCPRO project 

Researchers

• Prof. dr. Johanna Vanderstraeten (promoter)
• Prof. dr. Hendrik Slabbinck (promoter)
• Riyaad Ismail