The Influence of Competitiveness on SMEs Internationalization Effectiveness. Online Versus Offline Business Networking

ABSTRACT

The article aims to analyze the importance of reinforcing the relational capital of the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of a globalized market. It elaborates on the influences of competitiveness on online versus offline business networking with a view to achieve effectiveness in the European steel pipe SMEs internationalization process. The results indicate that internationalization effectiveness is indirectly influenced by competitiveness, with online and offline networking mediating the relationship between the two variables.

KEYWORDS:

• Competiveness
• internationalization effectiveness
• offline and online business networking
• relational capital
• SMEs

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elena-Mădălina Vătămănescu

Elena-Mădălina Vătămănescu is an associate professor at the Faculty of Management (SNSPA, Bucharest). She is Deputy Head of the Centre for Research in Management and Leadership, and Managing Editor of the Journal of Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy. Her main research interests are: business internationalization, knowledge management, intellectual capital, organizational diagnosis, and online networking.

Andreia Gabriela Andrei

Andreia Gabriela Andrei is a researcher within the Interdisciplinary Research Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi. Her research interests are: marketing, business communication, branding, consumer behavior, data analysis, modeling, and research methods.

Luminița Nicolescu

Luminița Nicolescu is a professor at the Faculty of International Business and Economics within Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania. Her main research interests are: business internationalization, relationship marketing, country-of-origin effect, country image, and organizational dynamics.

Florina Pînzaru

Florina Pînzaru is an associate professor and Dean of the Faculty of Management (SNSPA, Bucharest). She is Head of the Centre for Research in Management and Leadership at SNSPA and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy. Her main research interests are: social media and digitalization, online marketing, consumer behavior, and SMEs development strategies.

Alexandra Zbuchea

Alexandra Zbuchea is an associate professor and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Management (SNSPA, Bucharest). She is Executive Head of the Centre for Research in Management and Leadership and Editor of the Journal of Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy. Her main research interests are: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), marketing strategies, social entrepreneurship, and business sustainability.