Internationalization Strategies of "Born Globals" and the Alibaba Group

Term Paper , 2018 , 27 Pages , Grade: 1.3

Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance

Expansion into foreign markets is an issue that many companies have to address if they want to offer their products and services not only in domestic markets but also in foreign markets. In order to become successful internationally, various internationalization strategies can be chosen.

The first part of the work describes traditional internationalization strategies with the focus on the Uppsala approach as well as a relatively new concept called "Born Globals" from a theoretical standpoint. In the second part of the work, the theoretical learning about Born Globals is applied to practice at the example of the Alibaba Group. The work ends with the conclusion that the Alibaba Group shares the most common behaviors and characteristics of Born Globals.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations

List of Figures

List of Tables

1. Introduction
1.1. Problem statement
1.2. Objectives of the Paper
1.3. Research Methodology
1.4. Structure of the Work

2. Theory and Concepts
2.1. Traditional Internationalization Strategies
2.1.1. Economic Approach
2.1.2. Behavioral Approach
2.1.3. Uppsala Model (International Process Approach)
2.2. Born Global Firms
2.2.1. Forces that Drive Early Internationalization of Born Globals
2.2.2. Characteristics of Born Globals

3. Practice Transfer / Case Example
3.1. Alibaba: Fundamental Information
3.1.1. Alibaba’s Present
3.1.2. Numerical Facts
3.1.3. History
3.2. Alibaba: Characteristics and Drivers of Internationalization
3.2.1. Timing of Internationalization
3.2.2. External Drivers of Internationalization
3.2.3. Comparison of Alibaba with Characteristics of Born Globals

4. Results and Analysis
4.1. Traditional Internationalization Strategies versus Born Globals
4.2. Classification of Alibaba's internationalization strategy

5. Summary and Outlook

6. Reference list

• College: University of applied sciences, Cologne
• Course: International Strategy & Sales Managenent
• Grade: 1.3
• Author: Thorsten Mannherz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 27
• Catalog Number: V416396
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668661899
• ISBN (Book): 9783668661905
• Language: English
• Tags: Alibaba, Born Globals, Internationalization, Uppsala Model, International Process Approach, Economic Approach, Behavioral Approach, Early Internationalization, International Strategy, Strategy, China, Internationalisierung, rapid, schnell