Intermittent exporting (repeatedly exiting and reentering foreign markets) is often associated with the initial stages of internationalization. However, some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including family firms, pursue an intermittent exporting strategy beyond the initial stages. Drawing on a refinement of the behavioral agency model (BAM) and real options reasoning, we theorize that a high level of family involvement in SMEs is positively associated with intermittent exporting. We also argue that this relationship is moderated by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and board members with a foreign background. We test our hypotheses using a unique longitudinal dataset of Swedish SMEs in the manufacturing and retail industries.

Internationalization is an important growth strategy for small and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs). Yet, it is also a complex process since it involves a large variety of decisions and addressing the diverse nature of and unfamiliarity with foreign markets can especially be challenging for SMEs. Because SMEs have fewer resources they tend to be less equipped for internationalization and become more vulnerable to changes in the external environment. Therefore, continued growth in foreign markets is not easy nor guaranteed and instead, SMEs can de-internationalize and potentially re-internationalize. Thus, internationalization can be described as a discontinuous process.

To address the complexities of internationalization as a discontinuous process, this dissertation studies some key antecedents, mediating factors and performance effects associated with the discontinuous internationalization of SMEs. The dissertation comprises two quantitative studies, a qualitative study, and a conceptual essay. The first essay examines family involvement in SMEs as an antecedent of intermittent exporting building on the behavioral agency model and real options reasoning. Utilizing a unique longitudinal dataset of Swedish SMEs in the manufacturing and retail industry, it is found that family firms experience a higher degree of intermittent exporting than non-family firms. This relationship is moderated by the foreign background of the CEO, such that the degree of intermittent exporting reduces when family firms have a CEO with a foreign background.

While research has addressed the motivations for de-internationalization, less is known about the de-internationalization process. The second paper studies the de-internationalization process building on two case studies. The findings indicate that attitudinal commitment can be a key mediating factor between motives for de-internationalization and the de-internationalization outcome. Different commitment profiles are identified in relation to the timing of de-internationalization, the effort put into executing the de-internationalization decision and the extent of de-internationalization.

The third essay studies the performance effect of exit from exporting, using a longitudinal dataset of Swedish exporting SMEs in the manufacturing industry. This essay relies on the theoretical framework of the internationalization performance literature - which builds on transaction cost theory, resource-based view and learning theory – to hypothesize that exit from exporting can have benefits and costs and that the environmental circumstances influence whether the benefits or costs prevail. The findings show that exit from exporting can be beneficial for SME financial performance if the firm has high levels of available slack and when the firm is active in a dynamic environment.

The fourth essay proposes that a focus on the behavioral theory of the firm can provide a basis for understanding the micro-processes in family firms that may affect discontinuities in the internationalization process. Family business internationalization literature has borrowed some aspects of the behavioral theory of the firm, like goal diversity and uncertainty avoidance. However, it has ignored others like problemistic search and learning. Building on the key concepts of quasiresolution of conflict, uncertainty avoidance, problemistic search and learning,future areas for research on family firm internationalization as a discontinuous process are identified in this essay.

Overall, the dissertation responds to a call for research on the dynamics in the internationalization process and makes four important contributions to the literatures on SME internationalization, family business and internationalization performance. First, it shows how family control can influence intermittent exporting. Second, it adds to the discussion on de-internationalization of SMEs by highlighting the role of attitudinal commitment in the de-internationalization process. Third, it extends the socioemotional wealth perspective by adding a real options lens to it. Fourth, a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between exit from exporting and performance is provided by proposing that exit from exporting can have costs as well as benefits and showing empirically that under certain circumstances exit from exporting can be beneficial for SME performance.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the relationship between exit from exports and the subsequent performance of SMEs. Based on the internationalization-performance literature I hypothesize that exit from export markets does not have a significant effect on performance unless the firm is active in a complex or dynamic environment. Using a panel data set with 822 Swedish manufacturing SMEs, covering the period 2008-2012, it is confirmed that exit from exports has no effect on performance unless the firm is facing a dynamic environment. The paper has a number of contributions to theory as well as practice among which that it emphasizes that exit from exports is an alternative path in the internationalization process that is not necessarily bad for the firm

Den ökande globaliseringen och tillgången till internationella marknader innebär stora exportmöjligheter som kan generera tillväxt, jobb och välstånd, framförallt för länder med små inhemska marknader som Sverige. Export är det vanligaste sättet för mindre företag att komma ut på internationella marknader samtidigt som internationalisering är en komplex process och mindre företag ofta behöver stöd för att lyckas.

I rapporten International Market Exit and Re-entry: An empirical study of export patterns of Swedish SMEs kartläggs svenska små och medelstora företags internationaliseringsmönster. Specifikt tittar författarna på om, hur och varför företag gör exit från internationella marknader och huruvida de återvänder eller söker sig till nya marknader. Dessutom presenterar författarna ett antal rekommendationer för hur svenska små och medelstora företag kan stödjas i sina internationaliseringssatsningar. (Baksidestext)

The theory of planned behaviour is a theory originating from psychology. Over time, the theory has been applied to a variety of research areas. In business administration, the theory is used to gain insight into the ethical behaviour of managers, the adoption of new products and entrepreneurship. The family business context is a specific context, in which the family has a strong influence on the strategic decisions of the business. Current application of the theory of planned behaviour in family business research focuses on succession. The main level of analysis in this research is the individual. To gain a deeper understanding of family business decision making, a theory is required that can be applied at multiple levels. In this chapter, it is argued that application of the theory of planned behaviour at the family and business level is possible because interaction between individuals results in the creation of common beliefs and intentions. This opens up future research avenues using the theory of planned behaviour, such as corporate entrepreneurship and the internationalisation of family firms. Keywords: theory of planned behaviour, family business, strategic decision making, multi-level analysis, corporate entrepreneurship, internationalisation.