Abstract:
The study of born global firms and other forms of early and rapid internationalization has spawned new models of the internationalization process that contrast with traditional conceptualizations of internationalization as a gradual and incremental expansion in geographic market scope. Experiential learning played a central role in the theory of incremental internationalization, but we believe that the full potential of learning-based insights have yet to be realized in the study of internationalization, especially with respect to rapid internationalization. Particularly ripe for exploration is the evolution of organizational learning processes as a firm matures and intensifies its international commitment. To promote research in this area, we provide a critical review of the current theoretical treatment of learning in models of both incremental and early/rapid internationalization. We then examine influential contributions to the organizational learning literature to identify learning processes and knowledge forms that can be used to build a more holistic and evolutionary view of learning in internationalization theory. Our review suggests that several learning processes have yet to be investigated in the internationalization literature, but are likely distinctively relevant to models of early and rapid internationalization. We suggest a framework and method for extending current internationalization learning theory that incorporates the learning processes and knowledge forms identified in our review.