Publicly Funded Business Advisory Services and Entrepreneurial Internationalization

International Small Business Journal, Forthcoming

38 Pages Posted: 5 May 2014

See all articles by Douglas J. Cumming

Douglas J. Cumming

Florida Atlantic University; Birmingham Business School; European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Eileen Fischer

York University - Schulich School of Business

Theodore Peridis

York University - Schulich School of Business

Date Written: May 4, 2014

Abstract

This paper examines whether and how publicly sponsored advising services can encourage small enterprises and new firms to take the steps required to increase their degree of internationalization. We posit and find that advising impacts the knowledge and skills firms develop. The data examined are drawn from a publicly funded organization providing mentorship and consulting services to entrepreneurial SMEs from a broad range of industries. They show a significant relationship between receipt of advising and the internationalization related knowledge and competences entrepreneurial firms develop. Further, knowledge, competences and advising are all significant predictors of firms taking steps conducive to initial or increased internationalization. The results suggest that various forms of advisory services should be explicitly considered in assessing the factors building SMEs’ dynamic capabilities. Moreover, pertinent public policy initiatives should incorporate performance metrics that capture the impact of such advisory services in enhancing the internationalization of entrepreneurial firms.

Keywords: Internationalization, Public Advisory Hubs, Entrepreneurship

JEL Classification: L26, M16

Suggested Citation

Cumming, Douglas J. and Fischer, Eileen and Peridis, Theodore, Publicly Funded Business Advisory Services and Entrepreneurial Internationalization (May 4, 2014). International Small Business Journal, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2432736

Douglas J. Cumming (Contact Author)

Florida Atlantic University ( email )

777 Glades Rd
Boca Raton, FL 33431
United States

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/view/douglascumming/bio?authuser=0

Birmingham Business School ( email )

Edgbaston Park Road
Birmingham, B15 2TY
United Kingdom

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) ( email )

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://https://ecgi.global/users/douglas-cumming

Eileen Fischer

York University - Schulich School of Business ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada

Theodore Peridis

York University - Schulich School of Business ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada

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