Internationalization of a social enterprise

: motives, process, and challenges : a case study of Free the Seed

Abstract

Most of the empirical studies have been researched on determinants and internationalization, yet lacking studies examined the internationalization holistically, concerning the social enterprise. This study aims to discover the drivers and barriers of a social enterprise during internationalization specifically to Free to Seed, a leading biodegradable packaging manufacturer in Malaysia. The literature reviews synthesize the internationalization strategy and process, as well as the social enterprise and its sustainability. This study utilized a single case-study approach to identify the internationalization motives, strategic choices, and challenges in a social enterprise. The motives were examined by analyzing the process and mode of entry to entering a foreign market. The findings show how the social enterprise adapt the existing resources to meet the markets demand and successfully pursues business and social goals. Challenges of internationalization and how the firm has overcome them was also discussed. Lastly, limitations were suggested of this study and implication for future research

Date of Award	2 Jul 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Piotr Wójcik (Supervisor)