Desenvolvimento de um instrumento de avaliação das capacidades de internacionalização das empresas do setor agroalimentar português

Abstract

The Portuguese AgriFood Sector is one of the strategic clusters in the Portuguese economy. The role and importance of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in the sector is increasing since they represent the majority of the Portuguese companies. Lack of resources and information about foreign markets are generally acknowledged as major barriers to the internationalization of SMEs. The development of internal capacities is considered key to success in foreign markets. PortugalFoods is one of the main organizations supporting the innovation and internationalization of this cluster. To promote the internationalization of agrifood SMEs, PortugalFoods identified the need for an instrument that could measure agrifood SMEs’ capacities for internationalization. Therefore, this study, conducted in the context of an internship in PortugalFoods, aims to develop this instrument. Eight models assessing the capabilities for internationalization were analysed and compared to the criteria established in the literature and to the goals set by PortugalFoods. A survey that operationalized the model of Knight & Kim (2009) completed by Zhou et. al (2010) was sent to 162 companies of the agrifood sector that participate in the events organized by PortugalFoods. Based on the 50 valid answers, exploratory factor analyses with confirmatory purposes were used to validate the model in the Portuguese context. The original models were partially validated. A model for evaluating the internationalization capabilities of Portuguese agrifood companies was then proposed and fully validated, combining four constructs also formally validated in other contexts. These constructs are: knowledge capability upgrading, international orientation, international marketing skills and international innovativeness.

Date of Award	13 Jul 2017
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Leonor Prata Cerqueira Sopas (Supervisor) & Miguel Sottomayor (Co-Supervisor)