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Québec SME Risk Management and Exports to Asian Countries

Key Success Factors of SME Internationalisation: A Cross-Country Perspective

ISBN: 978-1-78754-278-5, eISBN: 978-1-78754-277-8

Publication date: 10 September 2018

Abstract

Over the last 10 years, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developed countries have faced increasingly stiff competition in their local markets, which has put the survival of many of them at risk. To reduce their vulnerability, many SMEs have targeted sales to other countries. Recently, however, the pace and intensity of these firms’ export activities appear to have decreased, as their traditional markets (i.e., the United States and Europe) have been experiencing slow growth. This situation has led some SMEs to explore the possibility of exporting to less traditional countries presenting more opportunities. However, a good number of entrepreneurs remain hesitant to go down this road, in particular given the uncertainty that prevails in those regions and the risks they represent in terms of exports. This study, which was conducted with a sample of 582 Canadian manufacturing SMEs, reveals that two characteristics help explain the fact that some SMEs choose to export to higher risk countries, more specifically to Asia. These characteristics are a positive attitude towards risk-taking among managers and the implementation of certain risk management mechanisms.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Sidi Allal Aissaoui for completing the statistical work as well as the Canada Research Chair in SME innovation and risk management for its financial contribution. The ideas put forward in this text are the exclusive responsibility of the authors.

Citation

St-Pierre, J., Lacoursière, R. and Veilleux, S. (2018), "Québec SME Risk Management and Exports to Asian Countries", Dominguez, N. and Mayrhofer, U. (Ed.) Key Success Factors of SME Internationalisation: A Cross-Country Perspective (International Business and Management, Vol. 34), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 175-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1876-066X20180000034010

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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