Transformations  in
Business & Economics

NONLINEAR INTERNATIONALIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF NONLINEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF KRENHOLM GROUP
Tiia Vissak

ABSTRACT.This paper aims to investigate the nonlinear internationalization of Krenholm Group - an Estonian textiles producer (established in 1857, went bankrupt in 2010) - in the context of nonlinear economic development. Based on literature on de- and re-internationalization, born-again globals, but also international new ventures / born globals / fast internationalizers, late starters, the Uppsala (U-) and innovation-related internationalization (I-) models and on case study evidence, the paper concludes that during its internationalization process, a firm's involvement in internationalization - including its pace, foreign market selection and export shares of these countries - may change several times. This process may be strongly affected by critical incidents like management or ownership changes and sudden changes in the business environment as well as several other factors. The paper ends with managerial and research suggestions.

KEYWORDS: nonlinear internationalization, de-internationalization, re-internationalization, case study, Estonia.

JEL classification: F23, M16, P2.