Designing a Strategic Model for Internationalization of Iranian Knowledge Based Enterprises

Extraversion, emphasis on knowledge-based economics, and presence in international markets have been identified as part of the Iran macroeconomic strategies to tackle issues such as unemployment, inflation and low economic growth rates. On the other hand, examination of export status of knowledge-based firms indicates that their status in international business is unfavorable. This study seeks to provide a strategic model to help the internationalization of these firms by studying the experience of successful knowledge-based companies in this field. The study is an applied, qualitative study using a systematic grounded theory strategy. For this purpose, 17 in-depth interviews with executives and elites of knowledge-based companies with successful international business experience were conducted and data were analyzed based on 96 component open, axial and selective coding methods. The analysis of the research data shows that the combination of three categories of source-based, network-based, and entrepreneurial-based components can lead to the pivotal phenomenon of sustainable international presence of knowledge-based firms. Components of organizational context, national and transnational environment are also underlying this presence, and human and institutional components are among the confounding factors. Meanwhile, by adopting customer-centric growth strategies and technological competition, firms can achieve results such as reputation, survival, growth and technological upgrading.