Internacionalização e aprendizagem: um estudo sobre as micro e pequenas empresas da indústria de software do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul(Brasil)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the organizational learning process that occurs in internationalization of small business software industry of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Internationalization process is analyzed based on a hybrid model of small and medium-sized enterprises that integrates the experiential learning and systematic planning models and incorporates the contingency perspective. Learning processes are analyzed supported on a multilevel organizational learning framework. The research was done in two phases. The first one is quantitative and intend to identify and to characterize the sample of small enterprises that act internationally. The second phase uses a case study approach to analyze the internationalization and organizational learning processes. In a sample of 121 small enterprises, 29 of them indicate to operate internationally. Five of them were chosen to case studies. Internationalization process analysis suggests that it begins with emergent opportunities, highlights organizatio