Abstract/Summary

Grounded in the resource-based view of the firm and the network perspective on internationalisation, we develop and test a model of early performance for born global firms. We employ a mixed-methods approach, combining exploratory interviews and survey data from 310 Australian and New Zealand companies. Our results suggest that international entrepreneurial orientation, focus on product/service quality, and competitor orientation are critical drivers of international performance for born globals. The key contributions of the study are the development of an integrated performance model for born global firms, using a nuanced operationalisation of performance, and an empirical comparison between born globals and traditionally internationalising firms.