It’s Not (Only) the International New Venture But (Also) the Micromultinational, Daftie!

This chapter advances the argument that, together with the international new venture (INV; or, born global (BG) firm), the unit of analysis in international business (IB) strategy should also be the micromultinational enterprise (mMNE). Based on the IB strategy and international entrepreneurship (IE) literatures, the chapter posits that the mMNE is a salient international entrepreneurial firm that has been neglected from most empirical work. The argument is built on an IE literature search and subsequent conceptualization around the dimensions of international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO). It is posited that risk attitude manifested in hefty resource mode commitments (contractual joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries) forms a key entrepreneurial dimension that should be a major focus of empirical analysis beyond innovativeness and proactiveness. The main contribution of this chapter is that it delineates the dimensions and manifestations of IEO and advances research in this area. The aim is to persuade the reader that the mMNE should be a focal firm of interest in the IB strategy and entrepreneurship arenas.