Fast and slow resource commitment to foreign markets: What causes the difference?

Apparently, the pace by which companies commit resources to foreign markets differs significantly. We test six propositions that potentially explain why some companies undertake faster foreign market commitment than others. Suggested factors discriminating between a fast and a slow foreign market commitment are (1) whether the company is producing manufactures or services; (2) foreign market entry motives; (3) company size; (4) foreign market stability; (5) experience with foreign markets similar to the entered; and (6) degree of globalization in the industry. Using multiple regression analysis on Danish MNE data, we obtain supportive empirical evidence for all propositions, except for number 5, experience with similar markets. The results indicate that resource commitment to stable, foreign markets undertaken by small, market-seeking, manufacturing companies operating in domestic industries is slow relative to the commitment of resources to unstable markets made by firms with other attributes (large firms, service firms, and motives other than market seeking) operating in global industries. The study suggests that a globalization of industries since the 1970s has prompt companies to increase the pace by which they commitment resources to foreign markets.