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The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies The Faculty of Social Sciences The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies 3/6/2014 This Master thesis is submitted in part requirement for the MSc in International Marketing, Department of Social Sciences, Aalborg University. Heiki Koppelmann 2014 TALLINN The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies TITLE SHEET Place of study: Aalborg University Level: Master Field of study: Economics and Business Administration (International Marketing) Title of the project: The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies Topic: What external factors drive internationalization process of Estonian software companies? Keywords: Internationalization, SMEs, Porters Diamond Model, Estonian ICT industry and software sector, PLC, OLI Model, Uppsala Model Submission date: 06.03.2014 Number of words: 13694 Number of pages: 74 Supervisor: Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana External Examiner: Søren Eschen Written by: Heiki Koppelmann 1 The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies ACKNOWLEDGMENTS During the past months I have had the opportunity to investigate an extremely interesting and fairly unexplored topic – the internationalization process of Estonian ICT companies. During the process there have been many knowledgeable people, to whom I am very grateful. I would like to express my special gratitude to my Supervisor, Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana, who has guided me throughout the process of writing this thesis and to be able to finish my studies in Aalborg University. I would also want to sincerely thank Senior Secretary, Birgitte Krogner, who’s fast and professional administration skills have helped me during my thesis writing and while studying in Aalborg University. I would also like to thank my family and friends, who have supported me and gave me the strength to finish my thesis. 2 The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies ABSTRACT This thesis was initiated because of the extremely interesting and fairly unexplored topic – the internationalization process of Estonian ICT companies. Applying the Porters Diamond Model to collect and interpret the secondary data from the internet, books, journals and statistical sources to find the external factors that influence the internationalization of Estonian ICT industry and identify the competitiveness of the industry. To be able to describe the internationalization phenomena this chapter was divided into the theories related to firms regardless of the nature of the firms (Uppsala Model, The Product life- cycle theory) and into theories related to MNEs (OLI Model). Following theories were used as theoretical framework, while taking the SMEs perspective. The main findings of the project were, that Estonia is one of the best environments to start ICT related business, because of the free and highly developed infrastructure environment and the competitiveness of the industry is one of the highest in Eastern-Europe. We can expect, that ICT industry and software sector of Estonia will remain and become even more competitive during the near future. 3 The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS APC Adaptive Production Capability B2C Business to Consumer ICT Information and Communication Technology IE International Entrepreneurship IO Industrial Organization FDI Foreign Direct Investment MNE Multinational Enterprise OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development SME Small and Medium Sized Enterprise PLC Product life-cycle 4 The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies CONTENTS Title sheet ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... 2 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 3 List of abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... 4 Table of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 7 Table of Tables ............................................................................................................................... 7 1. Introduction and Research Question ........................................................................................ 8 1.1 Background of the Study .................................................................................................. 8 1.2 The Overview of Estonian ICT Industry ........................................................................ 10 1.3 Research Question .......................................................................................................... 14 1.3.1 Limitations .................................................................................................................. 14 2. Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Research Objectives ....................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Research Design ............................................................................................................. 16 2.3 Methodological Aproaches ............................................................................................ 17 2.3.1 Definition of Paradigm ........................................................................................... 17 2.3.2 Operating Paradigm ................................................................................................ 18 2.4 Six Social Science Paradigms ............................................................................................. 19 2.4.1 Explanatory and understanding creation of knowledge .......................................... 22 2.5 Methodological Approaches in Business ....................................................................... 23 2.6 Used Methodological Approach..................................................................................... 25 2.7 Applied Methods ............................................................................................................ 25 3. Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 27 5 The Internationalization Process of Estonian Software Companies 3.2 Porters Diamond Model theory ...................................................................................... 27 3.2.1 Porters Diamond model in the Internationalization of SMEs ..................................... 27 3.3 Internationalization phenomena ..................................................................................... 34 3.3.1 Product life cycle theory ............................................................................................. 35 3.3.2 The Uppsala model ..................................................................................................... 37 3.3.3 International entrepreneurship theories ...................................................................... 39 3.3.4 OLI Model .................................................................................................................. 40 4. Applying Porters Diamond Model ........................................................................................ 44 4.1 Research results & Facts ................................................................................................ 44 4.1.1 Key Facts about Estonia ............................................................................................. 44 4.2 Government .................................................................................................................... 45 4.3 Factor conditions ............................................................................................................ 47 4.3.1 Human resources ..................................................................................................... 47 4.3.2 Physical resources ................................................................................................... 48 4.3.3 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................... 48 4.3.4 Knowledge resources .............................................................................................. 50 4.3.5 Capital resources ..................................................................................................... 53 4.4 Demand Conditions ........................................................................................................ 55 4.5 The related and supplier industries................................................................................. 58 4.6 Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry ............................................................................. 58 4.7 Change ............................................................................................................................ 60 5. Porters Diamond Model Discussion & Conclusion ............................................................... 62 Further Research and suggestions ................................................................................................
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