International expansion of Canadian high technology start-up companies : an integrated theoretical model : an exploratory case study of Canadian HSF internationalization process
Bibliographic record
Abstract
Purpose – This qualitative, case-based research investigates the internationalization and\ngrowth process of Canadian high-tech start-ups (HSFs). This research observes tensions\nbetween literature and entrepreneurial tendencies, explores relevant factors to the\ninternationalization process such as the entrepreneur’s characteristics, and proposes an\nintegrated theoretical model. This analysis will serve to identify practical implications\nand a future research agenda.\nDesign & Approach – Three research questions are posed to support the outlined\nobjective. An exploratory case study approach was chosen to observe the growth process\nof eight Canadian HSFs of varying size and stage. Data was collected through in-depth\ninterviews with founders, which was then used to establish a case narrative in the context\nof the proposed research questions and preform cross-case analysis.\nFindings – The Lean Start-up model best represents the Canadian HSF\ninternationalization process. The process differs to traditional MNEs, as key decisions\nsuch as entry mode are less relevant to HSFs. Instead, the process is dictated by the\nfounder’s ability to build their network and identify business opportunities through\ninformal relationships and utilize existing international knowledge and experience.\nResearch Limitations – This thesis is limited to the Canadian HSF industry. Certain\nconclusions may be applicable to other SMOPECs; however, they may not be\ngeneralizable to HSFs in alternate markets or industries. This research would benefit\nfrom the combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and the\napplication of longitudinal analysis.\nPractical Implications – While several practical implications are identified throughout\nthis paper, three stand out in particular: 1) Founders primarily enter the U.S. as their\ninitial market and use Canada as their demo market to acquire knowledge. 2)\nEntrepreneurial competencies dictate the firm’s internationalization process; firms that\nlack knowledge of international markets should seek advisors with foreign knowledge\nearly in the process to identify opportunities. 3) Founders primarily use informal\n3\nnetworks to facilitate growth; connections through incubators and informal advisors\nenable knowledge acquisition.\nOriginality – There is no recent research observing Canadian HSF internationalization\nutilizing a case study approach. Previous research on this topic does not establish an\nintegrated theoretical framework or observe emerging research trends in detail such as\ninformal networks or entrepreneurial characteristics.\nContribution & Future Research – An integrated theoretical model is proposed along\nwith a comprehensive outline of the HSF internationalization process. Research questions\nare established with reference to relevant research agendas, exploring topics such as the\nknowledge acquisition process and the role of the entrepreneur in international growth. A\nresearch agenda outlines potential finance applications of the internationalisation process,\nparticularly the use of real options.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.002 | 0.003 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.001 | 0.000 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.003 | 0.004 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.013 | 0.004 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.005 | 0.002 |
| Open science | 0.001 | 0.002 |
| Research integrity | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.005 | 0.000 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".