Os estágios de envolvimento internacional e suas relações com a performance internacional de empresas brasileiras

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the existent relationship between international involvement stages and international performance of Brazilian companies. So, a wide literature review was accomplished contemplating aspects about the internationalization of the companies, mainly related to international involvement stage models and international performance. It was necessary to adapt an involvement stage model and to choose a scale for measuring the companies international performance. The theoretical model of this study comprehended three research hypotheses, which were tested in a sample of 126 Brazilian companies located in Rio Grande do Sul, a south Brazilian state, during the second semester of 2010. It was suggested, based on the researched literature, that companies advance (or even retreat) through the international involvement stages according to the internationalization complexity of the strategy and in agreement with its dependence on international revenue. It was verified, for the present study, that companies which adopt strategies of larger complexity have, on average, better international performance. Besides, this research revealed that companies which have larger dependence on international revenue also have, on average, better international performance. Still, this study verified, mainly, the higher the international involvement of the company, the greater will be its international performance. Finally, this research also shows other conclusions related to the internationalization of companies.