The role of entrepreneurial ecosystems in small firm internationalization: a systematic review and integrative model

Abstract

This article synthesizes literature at the intersection of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE) and the internationalization of small firms. We integrate insights from International Business (IB) and EE research domains to harmonize the conceptual differences between the two domains and develop an integrative model. We perform a systematic literature review (SLR) of 43 peer-reviewed articles on EE and small firm internationalization. Our analysis employs the Gioia methodology to develop thematic codes that help synthesize knowledge on the subject. Our analysis highlights several key microfoundational mechanisms, i.e. opportunity recognition, resource mobilization, network activation and learning, that mediate the translation of ecosystem-level structures into firm-level internationalization outcomes. We further unveil contextual moderators, i.e. EE maturity, institutional quality, digital embeddedness, industry characteristics and prior international experience, that shape these mechanisms' effectiveness. The review addresses five key issues: harmonizing conceptual differences between IB and EE, integrating born global and early internationalizing firm concepts, aligning multi-level perspectives, clarifying institutional roles and reconciling network conceptualizations. Our analysis demonstrates the integration and complementarity of IB and EE literature in explaining firm internationalization behavior. By synthesizing the IB and EE literature, we create an integrated model that illustrates the complex connections inherent in EE and firm-level internationalization behavior. The paper provides new perspectives to enhance the comprehension of how EE and IB disciplines might synergize rather than contradict each other in explaining the behavior of small firms in IB.