2025/2026 KAN-CGMAI3008U Internationalization of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
| English Title | |
| Internationalization of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises |
Course information |
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| Language | English |
| Course ECTS | 7.5 ECTS |
| Type | Elective |
| Level | Full Degree Master |
| Duration | Summer |
| Start time of the course | Summer |
| Timetable | Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk |
| Min. participants | 30 |
| Max. participants | 60 |
| Study board |
Study Board for Governance, Law, Accounting & Management
Analytics
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| Programme | Master of Science (MSc) in Economics and Business Administration - General Management and Analytics (GMA) |
| Course coordinator | |
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| For academic questions related to the course, please contact instructor Anne Sluhan at as.egb@cbs.dk | |
| Main academic disciplines | |
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| Teaching methods | |
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| Last updated on 03/11/2025 | |
Relevant links |
| Learning objectives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By the end of the course, students should be able
to:
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| Course prerequisites | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completed Social Science Bachelor degree. Knowledge of relevant concepts from management, strategy, finance, and organization. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Course content, structure and pedagogical approach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Research-based teaching | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following
types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are
included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
Research-like activities
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| Description of the teaching methods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This course is a mix of classroom meetings and
some content delivered online.
Due to the interactive nature of the case-based method, the majority of the course will occur as face-to-face (classroom) interactions. Some online content will be delivered on demand to frame and supplement class discussions. |
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| Feedback during the teaching period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feedback during the teaching period
Students who submit a problem formulation (maximum one page) by the published deadline will receive personalized feedback to support further development of their research questions. Initial approval of the project topic usually requires additional refinement and iteration of the research question, which can take place during ad hoc supervision sessions with the instructor. Feedback at this stage will focus on the clarity, relevance, and potential of the problem formulation to lead to a strong final report. Home Project Assignments / Mini-Projects These assignments are based on a research question (problem formulation) developed individually by each student. The deadline for submitting problem formulations will be published in CANVAS. |
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| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A precourse activity is uploaded to Canvas at the end of May. This assignment is designed to help students engage early with the course material and build a strong foundation for the rest of the course. Active participation is expected, since the assignment forms the basis for the final exam. While not graded independently, completing this assignment is important for course preparedness while also contributing to students’ overall success in the course.
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| Expected literature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative course readings: Amaeshi, K., Adegbite, E., Ogbechie, C., Idemudia, U., Kan, K. A. S., Issa, M. & Anakwue, O. I. J. (2016). Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs: A Shift from Philanthropy to Institutional Works? Journal of Business Ethics, 138(2), 385–400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2633-1
Andersson, S. (2025). Innovations and long-term international growth in born globals. Industrial Marketing Management, 124, 150-161.
Appiah, E. K., Gabrielsson, P., & Criado, A. R. (2025). The role of digitalization in early internationalization Research: A systematic literature review and future research directions. Journal of Business Research, 186, 115043.
Bai, W., Johanson, M., Oliveira, L., & Ratajczak-Mrozek, M. (2021). The role of business and social networks in the effectual internationalization: Insights from emerging market SMEs. Journal of Business Research, 129, 96-109.
Bartlett, C. A., Nanda, A. (1990). Ingvar Kamprad and Ikea. Case nr. 390-132. Harvard Business School.
Bell, J. & Loane, S. (2010). ‘New-wave’ global firms: Web 2.0 and SME internationalisation. Journal of Marketing Management, 26(3–4), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/02672571003594648
Berisha, G., Lajçi, R., Kallmuenzer, A., & Krasniqi, B. (2025). Born to go far: analyzing how emerging economy born globals make strategic changes toward internationalization. Journal of organizational change management, 38(1), 182-203.
Bika, Z., & Kalantaridis, C. (2019). Organizational‐social‐capital, time and international family SMEs: an empirical study from the East of England. European Management Review, 16(3), 525-541.
Blomqvist, K., Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, P., Nummela, N., & Saarenketo, S. (2008). The role of trust and contracts in the internationalization of technology-intensive Born Globals. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 25(1-2), 123-135.
Bowen, H. (1953). Social Responsibility of the Businessman. In New York: Harper and Row.
Buckley, P. J., & Liesch, P. W. (2023). Externalities in global value chains: Firm solutions for regulation challenges. Global Strategy Journal, 13(2), 420-439.
Cambra-Fierro, J., Hart, S. & Polo-Redondo, Y. (2008). Environmental respect: Ethics or simply business? A study in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) context. Journal of Business Ethics, 82(3), 645–656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007- 9583-1
Carroll, A. B. & Brown, J. A. (2018). Corporate Social
Responsibility: A Review of Current Concepts, Research, and Issues.
In J. . Weber & D. Wasleleski (Eds.), Corporate Social
Responsibility (Issue August, pp. 39–69). Emerald
Publishing
Limited.
https://doi.org/10.1108/S2514-175920180000002002
Chen, H. L., Hsu, W. T., & Chang, C. Y. (2014). Family ownership, institutional ownership, and internationalization of SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 52(4), 771-789
Chen, V., Hobdari, B., Kellermanns, F., Sluhan, A. (2021). For Love or Money? Family Versus Financial Blockholders in International Acquisitions. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(2), 140-160. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12392
Colovic, A. (2022). Leadership and business model innovation in late internationalizing SMEs. Long Range Planning, 55(1), 102083.
Content, J., Bosma, N., Jordaan, J. and Sanders, M. (2019) ‘Entrepreneurial ecosystems, entrepreneurial activity and economic growth: new evidence from European regions’, Regional Studies, pp.1–13.
Ciszewska-Mlinarič, M., Wójcik, P. and Obłój, K. (2020) ‘Learning dynamics of rapidly internationalizing venture: Beyond the early stage of international growth in a CEE context’, Journal of Business Research, Vol. 108, pp.450–465.
Cresanti, R. (2019). What Small Businesses Know About Corporate
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Resposibility.
Debellis, F., Pinelli, M., Hülsbeck, M. et al. (2023). Ownership, governance, and internationalization in family firms: a replication and extension. Small Business Economics, 61, 1437–1459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-023-00736-8
Debellis, F., Torchia, M., Quarato, F., & Calabrò, A. (2023). Board openness and family firm internationalization: A social capital perspective. Small Business Economics, 60(4), 1431-1448.
Denicolai, S., Zucchella, A., & Magnani, G. (2021). Internationalization, digitalization, and sustainability: Are SMEs ready? A survey on synergies and substituting effects among growth paths. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 166, 120650.
Durst, S., & Gerstlberger, W. (2020). Financing responsible small-and medium-sized enterprises: An international overview of policies and support programmes. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 14(1), 10.
European Commission. (2021). Corporate social responsibility & Responsible business conduct | Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. European Commission.Com. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/sustainability/corporate-social-responsibility
European Commission (2025). Study of the European Union SME Internationalisation Strategy. Final report
Fernandes, C., Veiga, P. M., & Gerschewski, S. (2023). SME internationalisation: past, present and future trends. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 36(1), 144-161.
Guidi, M., Vitali, S., Giuliani, M., & Chiucchi, M. S. (2025). Understanding the interplay between sustainability strategy and the approach to sustainability reporting in SMEs. Journal of Management & Organization, 31(3), 1137-1156.
Hammann, E.-M., Habisch, A. & Pechlaner, H. (2009). Values that create value: socially responsible business practices in SMEs - empirical evidence from German companies. Business Ethics: A European Review, 18(1), 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8608.2009.01547.x
Harel, R., Schwartz, D., & Kaufmann, D. (2020). Funding access and innovation in small businesses. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 13(9), 209.
Herrera Madueño, J., Larrán Jorge, M., Martínez Conesa, I. & Martínez-Martínez, D. (2016). Relationship between corporate social responsibility and competitive performance in Spanish SMEs: Empirical evidence from a stakeholders’ perspective. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 19(1), 55–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brq.2015.06.002
Hoogendoorn, B., Guerra, D. & van der Zwan, P. (2015). What drives environmental practices of SMEs? Small Business Economics, 44(4), 759–781. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-014-9618-9
Jenkins, H. (2004). A Critique of Conventional CSR Theory: An SME Perspective. Journal of General Management, 29(4), 37–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/030630700402900403
Jenkins, H. (2006). Small business champions for corporate social responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(3), 241–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9182-6
Jenkins, H. (2009). A ‘business opportunity’ model of corporate social responsibility for small- and medium-sized enterprises. Business Ethics: A European Review, 18(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8608.2009.01546.x
Katsinis, A., Lagüera González, J., Schulze Brock, P. and Di Bella, L, Monitoring SMEs’ performance in Europe, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/9209224, JRC142098.
Knight, G. A., & Liesch, P. W. (2016). Internationalization: From incremental to born global. Journal of World Business, 51(1), 93-102.
Kumari, S., Shirodkar, V., & McGuire, S. (2025). The
impact of home institutions on the internationalization of emerging
market SMEs: a systematic review. Multinational Business
Review, 33(1), 68-96.
Löfgren, A. (2014). International network management for the purpose of host market expansion: The mediating effect of co-innovation in the networks of SMEs. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 12(2), 162–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843- 014-0129-1
López-Pérez, M. E., Melero, I. & Javier Sese, F. (2017). Management for Sustainable Development and Its Impact on Firm Value in the SME Context: Does Size Matter? Business Strategy and the Environment, 26(7), 985–999. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1961
López González, J. & Sorescu, S. (2019). Helping SMEs internationalise through trade facilitation. In OECD Trade Policy Papers (Issue 229). https://doi.org/10.1787/2050e6b0-en
Maldonado-Erazo, C. P., Álvarez-García, J., del Río-Rama, M. de la C. & Correa- Quezada, R. (2020). Corporate Social Responsibility and Performance in SMEs: Scientific Coverage. Sustainability, 12(6), 2332. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062332
Manesh, S. M. Z. E. & Rialp-Criado, A. (2019). International ecopreneurs: The case of eco-entrepreneurial new ventures in the renewable energy industry. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 17(1), 103–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843- 017-0222-3
Manolopoulos, D., Chatzopoulou, E. & Kottaridi, C. (2018). Resources, home institutional context and SMEs’ exporting: Direct relationships and contingency effects. International Business Review, August 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.02.011
Manolova, T. S., Manev, I. M. & Gyoshev, B. S. (2010). In good company: The role of personal and inter-firm networks for new-venture internationalization in a transition economy. Journal of World Business, 45(3), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2009.09.004
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