{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]],"date-time":"2026-01-26T01:16:50Z","timestamp":1769390210247,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":108,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]],"date-time":"2024-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1721692800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Administrative Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This article introduces a new theoretical concept, the \u201cforeign champion\u201d, which attempts to solve the principal\u2013agent problem and improve academic understanding of foreign market entry decisions by analyzing what experts in the field consider to be best practices. Based on empirical research into the determinants of SME internationalization success, semi-structured interviews (n = 12, t = 5 h 10 min.) were conducted with industry experts, including one academic, government officials, chamber and association leaders, a venture capitalist, and several CEOs, and key testimonies were studied using qualitative analysis software. The results shed light on effective internationalization strategies and common market entry mistakes. Despite the perception of saturation, the prominence of the experts, and the large sample, there may be limitations, such as not covering several regions. The originality of this study lies in its conceptual framework, the insights gained from the select interviews, and a new concept of foreign market entry.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/admsci14080159","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]],"date-time":"2024-07-23T14:26:50Z","timestamp":1721744810000},"page":"159","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Internationalization of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Best Practices and the Emerging Concept of Foreign Champion, an Empirical Investigation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4064-2342","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno","family":"Calheiros-Lobo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4799-874X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Palma-Moreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio, Rua do Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"APPsyCI\u2014Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities & Inclusion, ISPA\u2014Instituto Universit\u00e1rio, R. do Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias e Tecnologia, Universidade Europeia, Quinta do Bom Nome, Estr. da Correia 53, 1500-210 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2154-6171","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Au-Yong-Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5577-8237","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Vasconcelos","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"137","article-title":"The Lure of Global Branding","volume":"77","author":"Aaker","year":"1999","journal-title":"Harvard Business Review"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1649","DOI":"10.1016\/S0305-750X(01)00063-8","article-title":"Common Property Institutions and Sustainable Governance of Resources, Montreal","volume":"29","author":"Agrawal","year":"2001","journal-title":"World Development"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1177\/1558689820957125","article-title":"Integrative Strategies in Mixed Methods Research","volume":"15","author":"Haapakoski","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Mixed Methods Research"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Anderson, Terry, and Kanuka, Heather (2003). 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