Internationalization through social networks: A systematic review and future research agenda

Xiaomin Han (1) , François Goxe (1) , Susan Freeman

1 LAREQUOI - Laboratoire de recherche en Management

This paper provides a systematic review of 210 papers on social networks and firm internationalization published between 2010 and 2022. It presents a comprehensive analysis of how social networks influence firm internationalization, following the concept of u201cinsidershipu201d. We classify social networks into individual, organizational, and national levels, and link these network levels and their characteristics with internationalization behavior, degree, and performance. We find that social networks promote internationalization through resources, trust, knowledge, and capabilities but can also have negative effects. In addition, we integrate boundary conditions from individual, firm, and environmental levels. In particular, we show that few theories focus on the impact of decision makersu2019 psychological and cognitive mechanisms on firmsu2019 internationalization through social networks. Additionally, limited studies pursue dynamic and comparative research designs, with few adopting quasi-experimental and longitudinal qualitative methods. Therefore, we call for more creativity in exploring managerial roles and strategic decisions in internationalization through extended social network syntheses and reflective methodologies.

Mots clés: Internationalization; Social networks; Systematic literature review

Domaines: Gestion et management

Xiaomin Han, François Goxe, Susan Freeman. Internationalization through social networks: A systematic review and future research agenda. International Business Review, 2024, 33 (4), ⟨10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102292⟩. ⟨hal-04626846⟩