There is a wide global attention to social entrepreneurship. However the social entrepreneurship theory is still in the stage of conceptualization as different countries have different social entrepreneurship coverage specifics and attitudes to social entrepreneurship initiatives. This paper tries to complement the lack of research work relating the social entrepreneurship phenomenon by proposing a conceptual framework, which encompasses the social entrepreneurship initiatives development process, the contextual aspects and social value. The main results are grounded on the decomposition of social entrepreneurship process and development the social entrepreneurship initiatives conceptual framework. The theoretical research has revealed that circumstances and social-entrepreneurial context are the most important factors for all stages of social entrepreneurship initiatives process

Organisational Learning in Startup Development and International Growth

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore factors leading to the early internationalization of international new ventures (INVs) in Lithuania – a transition economy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The determinants of early internationalization were grouped into three categories: entrepreneurial, firm-related and contextual determinants, and their impact on high-tech INVs that operate in emerging economies was investigated.Design/methodology/approach: The research design is a case study approach. Case studies are presented of six Lithuanian entrepreneurial firms that demonstrated successful internationalization and rapidly expanded into foreign markets during the preceding year.Findings: Region-specific theoretical propositions are provided for new ventures in CEE emerging economies. The results reveal that essential factors leading to the early internationalization of INVs operating in Lithuania, a transition economy, are entrepreneurial factors. Internationalization of INVs from CEE emerging economies is driven by push factors related to domestic market specifics; however, institutional factors do not seem to have a significant impact on INVs’ internationalization.Research limitations/implications: The results of the analysis of the case studies are not generalizable to the entire population of INVs in Lithuania. However, the results are substantial considering the success of high-tech Lithuanian firms that started their international activities shortly after their inception. Future research can contribute to the literature by seeking to apply international new venture theory in the context of emerging economies with larger samples and a focus on distinct patterns of internationalization.Originality/value: The findings contribute to the literature on international entrepreneurship by exploring early internationalization of INVs in the context of transition economies in CEE. This study’s contribution is based on theory building, especially in understanding the driving factors related to the early internationalization of new ventures founded by Lithuanian entrepreneurs. International entrepreneurship studies in the CEE, as well as Baltic countries, are limited, and this research contributes to filling this gap.

Adoption of Open Innovation in the Internationalization of Knowledge Intensive Firms

Entrepreneurial Level Factors of Early Internationalization: A Cross Country Comparison