1;Foreword;6 2;Acknowledgments;8 3;Table of Contents;10 4;List of Figures and Tables;14 5;List of Abbreviations;16 6;A. Introduction;18 6.1;1. Focus;18 6.2;2. Research Gaps;19 6.2.1;2.1. Introduction;19 6.2.2;2.2. Literature Review;21 6.2.3;2.3. Research Objectives;28 6.3;3. Overall Framework;31 6.3.1;3.1. Introduction;31 6.3.2;3.2. Summarizing Model;31 6.3.3;3.3. Structure of and Contribution by the Studies;37 6.3.3.1;3.3.1 Determinants and Development of Internationalization Patterns;37 6.3.3.2;3.3.2 Change of Foreign Operation Modes;38 6.3.3.3;3.3.3 Configuration of International Family Firms;38 6.3.3.4;3.3.4 Processes, Dynamic Capabilities and International Performance;39 6.4;4. Further Remarks;40 7;B. Study 1: SMEs' Internationalization Patterns: Descriptives, Dynamics and Determinants;42 7.1;1. Introduction;42 7.2;2. Conceptualization and Hypotheses Development;43 7.2.1;2.1. Literature Review on Internationalization Patterns;43 7.2.2;2.2. Identifying Internationalization Patterns;46 7.2.3;2.3. Discussing the Determinants of Internationalization Patterns;48 7.3;3. Empirical Study;52 7.3.1;3.1. Empirical Design;52 7.3.2;3.2. Measurement;53 7.3.3;3.3. Method;56 7.4;4. Results;57 7.4.1;4.1. Internationalization Patterns;57 7.4.2;4.2. Description of the three Patterns and the Changes over Time;59 7.4.3;4.3. Determinants of Internationalization Patterns;64 7.5;5. Discussion and Conclusions;66 7.5.1;5.1. Theoretical and Managerial Implications;66 7.5.2;5.2. Limitations and Further Research;70 8;C. Study 2: Changes in Foreign Operation Modes: Stimuli for Increases versus Reductions;72 8.1;1. Introduction;72 8.2;2. Literature Review;73 8.2.1;2.1. Economic-strategic and Behavioural Perspectives;73 8.2.2;2.2. Empirical Results on Mode Changes;74 8.3;3. Conceptualization and Hypotheses Development;76 8.3.1;3.1. Conceptual Framework;76 8.3.2;3.2. Mode Increases and Mode Reductions;77 8.3.3;3.3. Reasons for Mode Increase and Reductions;77 8.3.3.1;3.3.1 Performance in the Host Market;77 8.3.3.2;3.3.2 Firms' Internal Environment;78 8.3.3.3;3.3.3 Firms' External Environment;79 8.3.3.4;3.3.4 Managerial Attitudes;80 8.4;4. Design of the Empirical Study;81 8.4.1;4.1. Sample;81 8.4.2;4.2. Measurement;82 8.4.2.1;4.2.1 Dependent Variable;82 8.4.2.2;4.2.2 Independent Variables;82 8.4.2.3;4.2.3 Control Variables;83 8.4.3;4.3. Method;83 8.5;5. Results;84 8.5.1;5.1. Types of Mode Change;84 8.5.2;5.2. Importance of Stimuli for Mode Change;85 8.5.3;5.3. Magnitudes of Stimuli for Mode Change;87 8.6;6. Discussion;88 8.6.1;6.1. Overall Conclusions;88 8.6.2;6.2. Conclusions by Comparing Results;88 8.6.3;6.3. Conclusions for Theory and Practice;89 8.7;7. Limitations and Further Research;91 9;D. Study 3: A Taxonomy of Small and Medium-sized International Family Firms;92 9.1;1. Introduction;92 9.2;2. Literature Review;94 9.3;3. Theoretical Background and Conceptual Framework;95 9.3.1;3.1. Conceptual Framework of the Study;96 9.3.2;3.2. Culture;98 9.3.3;3.3. Strategy;99 9.3.4;3.4. Structure;100 9.3.5;3.5. International Performance;101 9.4;4. Empirical Study;102 9.4.1;4.1. Measurement;103 9.4.2;4.2. Method;107 9.5;5. Results;108 9.6;6. Discussion;114 9.7;7. Limitations and Further Research;116 10;E. Study 4: Linking Processes and Dynamic Capabilities of International SMEs: The Mediating Effect of International Entrepreneur Orientation;118 10.1;1. Introduction;118 10.2;2. Theoretical Background;119 10.3;3. Hypothesis Development;123 10.3.1;3.1. International Entrepreneurial Orientation;123 10.3.2;3.2. Scanning Processes;124 10.3.3;3.3. Planning Processes;126 10.3.4;3.4. Reciprocity of Processes and International Entrepreneurial Orientation;127 10.4;4. Empirical Study;128 10.4.1;4.1. Sample;128 10.4.2;4.2. Measurements;130 10.4.3;4.3. Method;135 10.5;5. Results;136 10.6;6. Discussion and Conclusions;139 10.7;7. Limitations and Directions for Further Research;142 11;F. Final Remarks;144 11.1;1. Discussion and Conclusions;144 11.1.1;1.1. Core Results;144 11.1.2;