Transformations in
Business & Economics
- © Vilnius University, 2002-2004
- © Brno University of Technology, 2002-2004
- © University of Latvia, 2002-2004
Article
Social Capital Theory and the Internationalisation of Polish SMEs
David Pollard, Maria Jemicz
ABSTRACT. The process and rate of internationalization in Polish SMEs is affected by the country’s accession to the EU. The internationalization process of SMEs has attracted a good deal of critical attention and a diversity of research approaches in recent years but relatively little work has been devoted to the internationalization of SMEs in transformation economy settings. This paper examines the internationalization process of transformation economy SMEs and the barriers existing for Polish SMEs in particular, in entering foreign markets. Recent work on the development of social capital theory applied to business-related applications is discussed and applied to SME internationalization issues, focusing on SME-related networks. This paper contributes to the SME internationalization debate by arguing for the application of social capital theory in explaining factors connected with the internationalization process in transformation economies.
KEYWORDS: SMEs, internationalisation, Poland, social capital theory.