Fasanya, David Oludotun and Ingham, Hilary and Read, Robert (2022) Determinants of internationalisation by firms from Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Business Research, 144. pp. 951-965. ISSN 0148-2963
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Abstract
This paper employs blended research methods to identify and evaluate the importance of the push and pull factors driving internationalisation by five African firms. It draws upon substantive new primary case-study evidence from structured interviews with senior managers of firms from three countries (Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa) in three sectors (consumer goods; financial services and banking; and mobile telephony). These are analysed and evaluated to test two propositions regarding the extent to which the principal push and pull factors conform to extant theory. Support is found for the push factors while two new pull factors are identified – Network Links and Diaspora Demand. The qualitative findings are validated using quantitative techniques to test the significances of differences in these push and pull factors between firms, home countries and sectors. Cluster analysis reveals internal firm mediation between the principal factors driving internationalisation.