What is it about?
A key focus in the study of early internationalizing firms across the International Marketing, International Entrepreneurship, and International Business domains is examining how learning supports the strategic processes of international new ventures and born-global firms.
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Why is it important?
International marketers and entrepreneurs could leverage this review to strategically build networks to bolster successful market entry and strengthen learning mechanisms. The strategy could include pre-entry collaboration with experienced international firms that offer critical market insights, regulatory guidance, and operational support, as well as external relationships, such as those with industry partners, mentors, or local distributors that help overcome knowledge gaps and mitigate risks in unfamiliar foreign markets.
Perspectives
The debate around the Uppsala internationalization model continues to shape how we understand rapid international expansion. While critics argue that the model is too episodic to explain early internationalizing firms, Johanson and Vahlne (2009, p. 1421) emphasize, “ there is nothing in our model that indicates that international expansion cannot be done quickly. In fact, it can, as long as there is sufficient time for learning and relationship building”. My paper advances this debate by explaining how early internationalizing firms learn and develop capabilities that enable rapid and competitive international expansion.
Dr Emmanuel Kusi Appiah
University of Vaasa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Learning processes in early and rapid internationalization – a theoretical journey and future pathways, International Marketing Review, April 2026, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/imr-02-2025-0051.
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