Social capital and internationalization of family SMEs in Campeche, México: a qualitative comparative analysis

Abstract Purpose: To study the internationalization of family SMEs in Mexico. Theoretical framework: Our review examines the relational approach to internationalization and the strategic approach to family businesses. It covers three types of social capital, market orientation, and international business orientation. Design/methodology/approach: This is a fuzzy-set qualitative case study. Seven family SMEs from the fishing sector in Campeche, Mexico, compose the sample. Findings: Linking is determining factor for internationalization. The cessation of internationalization occurs in family businesses because of a lack of international entrepreneurship, the family’s presence, and a lack of vertical links. Practical & social implications: This study expands the research on internationalization in family SMEs in an emerging economy context, empirically demonstrating how the analyzed exporters’ social capital links directly influence their activity. For business professionals, the challenge is to manage their links abroad. Our results show that links play a crucial role in internationalization in this context. Exporters that have not internationalized are advised to strengthen their connections with key government institutions. Originality/value: We show that there is more than one optimal way for family SMEs to succeed in internationalization. Research on the internationalization of family businesses in Mexico is very scarce. Thus, this study responds to calls for further research on the internationalization of SMEs in emerging economies.

摘要：
研究目的：本研究旨在探究墨西哥家族型中小型企业（Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, SMEs）的国际化发展路径。
理论框架：本研究梳理了国际化研究的关系视角与家族企业战略研究范式，涵盖三类社会资本、市场导向及国际化经营导向三大核心研究维度。
研究设计与方法：本研究采用模糊集定性案例研究法，研究样本为来自墨西哥坎佩切州渔业领域的7家家族型中小型企业。
研究发现：关系联结是企业国际化进程的决定性因素。家族企业出现国际化停滞，通常源于国际创业精神的缺失、家族管控的掣肘以及纵向联结的匮乏。
实践与社会启示：本研究拓展了新兴经济体背景下家族型中小型企业国际化领域的研究边界，实证揭示了受访出口企业的社会资本联结如何直接影响其国际化经营活动。对于企业从业者而言，海外关系联结的管理是其面临的核心挑战。本研究结果证实，在该研究场景中，关系联结对国际化进程发挥着关键作用。针对尚未完成国际化布局的出口企业，研究建议其强化与核心政府机构的联结。
研究创新性与价值：本研究表明，家族型中小型企业实现国际化成功的最优路径并非唯一。目前针对墨西哥家族企业国际化的相关研究尚极为匮乏，因此本研究响应了新兴经济体中小型企业国际化领域亟需开展更多深入研究的学术呼吁。