Browsing by Author "Silva, S. C."
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Knowledge, uncertainty and networks: what drives SMEs' internationalPublication . Cunha, C. Braga da; Silva, S. C.What are the key variables that can explain SMEs’ international market selection? International business literature has shown that firms’ costs of expanding business activities to host markets along with the lack of roots in foreign countries apparently result in competitive disadvantages for the alien enterprises. However, depending on the relationships established with other members of the network, companies may be able to more easily overcome the risks of selecting a certain market. In turn, the fear of facing unknown situations as well as the absence of knowledge about a specific country may hinder firms from going abroad, which may lead to the loss of opportunities. Based on a literature review regarding the topic and after developing some propositions, the authors developed a conceptual model which shows the existence of five variables that explain SMEs’ market selection – knowledge, market commitment, international networks, SMEs’ ties within networks, and SMEs’ status among members of the network. These variables seem to influence firms’ uncertainty, perception of psychic distance, as well as the liabilities of foreignness and outsidership. Consequently, relationships established with other players inside the network tend to enhance firms’ knowledge about foreign markets, allowing them to better assess opportunities and avoid risks.
- Trust and relational capital in international alliances: an empirical evidence from Portuguese industryPublication . Silva, S. C.; Shahzad, K.; Figueira-de-Lemos, F.; Ali, T.International alliances (IAs) are popular yet complicated collaboration strategy as it involves cross-border partnership. Successfully managing such alliances has been remained debatable for long. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents and determinants of trust and relational capital in the success of IAs. The analysis of survey data drawn from 232 Portuguese firms engaged in international business activities suggests that the performance of IAs is dependent on socially embedded mechanisms of mutual trust and relational capital that facilitate the cross-border collaboration. This means that trust and relational capital are accumulated after years of experience with partners and can be considered as assets. Moreover, we found that when shared values are aligned and embedded in social exchange approach and an increased reciprocity of information between partners exists, it leads to bridge distance and foster trust. While perception of the risk encapsulated in a particular relationship has a negative effect over trust, explaining that perceived relational risk is an important ingredient in the evaluation of the quality of a relationship. These findings have important theoretical and managerial implications in the context of cross-border alliances.
- Understanding the impact of the Country-of-Origin effect in PortugalPublication . Saraiva, L.; Silva, S. C.