Resumo

The global market can be considered a volatile environment and the internationalization of a firm through the adoption of any entry mode represents a change in the way a firm operates. The effects of increasing globalization of the business environment have been identified as a driver of firm’s need to business model innovation. A business model that efficiently supports a company’s competitive advantage in one market, may be challenged in a different one. Therefore, the business model needs to innovate or adapt to better fit specific contexts of international markets.

This article assumes that the internationalization process is a trigger for innovation and aims to answer: Does the internationalization of a company through the adoption of different entry modes generates the need for Business Model Innovation?

The theoretical review starts with an investigation about the concept of business model. It is followed by the analysis of business model innovation, and its relationship with internationalization. The final part of the review presents the entry modes.

This is a theoretical article based on the literature review.

Entry modes represent forms of internationalization. The different types of entry modes had been deeply investigated over the last decades. We analyzed its concepts based on the elements of a Business Model – content, structure and governance; defined by Amit and Zoot (2001) and Zoot and Amit (2010), and based on the types of business model innovation defined by Zhang, Zhao and Xu (2015).

Considering the lack of applied research focusing on our subject, we conducted our research to develop some propositions that could lead us to an explorative research. This paper is restricted to the lack of previous research, but we need to develop a theoretical basic model to start the discussion about the relation of business model innovation and entry modes. Empirical investigation is required for advancement in the study of these fields of knowledge.

Amit, R.; Zoot, C. (2001) Value creation in e-business. Strategic Management Journal. 22, 493-520. Teece, D.J. (2010) Business Models, Business Strategy and Innovation. Long Range Planning. 43 (2-3), 172-194. Zhang, Y.; Zhao, S.; Xu, X. (2015) Business model innovation: an integrated approach based on elements and functions. Information Technology and Management. 17 (3), 303-310. Zott, C.; Amit, R. (2010) Business Model Design: An Activity System Perspective. Long Range Planning. 43, 216-226.