Reviewing the Role of International Experience to Firm Internationalization. Traditional Assumptions and Selected Deviations

The paper explores the significant role of international experience and knowledge in the process of firm internationalization, highlighting its importance as a driver of competitive advantage. It discusses the lack of a unifying theory to explain how international experience influences various aspects of internationalization, such as entry modes and market selection. The complexity arises from the differing impacts of international experience on various types of firms and the diverse ways firms gain and utilize this experience, leading to a range of often contradictory scholarly assumptions.