Internationalisation process of software firms

Abstract

The increased relevance of software companies and the development of information and communication technologies have challenged traditional theories of internationalisation. Software companies appear to have notable advantages when expanding abroad. This topic has been studied by academics yet its complexity and multidisciplinarity have made it impossible for one theory to properly explain it. This work reviews some of the existing literature on internationalisation with a focus on software companies before carrying out semi-structured interviews with managers of two Spanish software companies to provide insight into their internationalisation process. One of the companies was found to be a Born Global as its internationalisation was early, not guided by psychic distance and without the use of networks. Networks opened the door to internationalisation for the other company interviewed, following one of the described models; however, psychic distance was still important. While the advantages of software companies to internationalise have been documented and studied by academics, it is perhaps too simple to say that all of them have such advantages.