The internationalisation of SMEs in the environment of globalisation from the barriers point of view

Abstract

A greater part of both international and national literature on internationalization SMEs and final theoretical models are derived from foreign activities of big companies. Scientists’ attention has been drawn to the problematic of integrating SMEs into international transformation especially in the last two decades. If the enterprise is to be successful (i.e. to be competitive, profitable and viable) under the current conditions and mainly under the conditions of the common European market, it is necessary to focus not only on domestic market but expand further beyond the country frontier. This trend is resulting from the instantly growing competitive pressure of globalised market. Internationalization seems to be one of the principal challenges for small and medium- size enterprises. The significant role of internationalizing activities of enterprises is the level of knowledge which the enterprise has available and what is the scope of utilization like. Globalisation is a big challenge for SMEs in transformation economies on the one side and big threat on the other side. Submitted paper deals with the question of identification of barriers of internationalization activities of SMEs. These barriers can come out from general as well as field and internal environment of the company. In the introduction are indicated theoretical starting points of research of this question. From the latest trends result that just scope and use of knowledge is becoming the motive force of successful business. Results were used from performed empiric research within the framework of the solution to the project GA/402/02/0106 "Internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Czech Republic".