INTERNATIONALIZATION THROUGH PROJECT MANAGEMENT: A STUDY ON HOW TO PRIORITIZE INTERNATIONALIZATION PROJECTS WITHIN INCUBATED COMPANIES

Resumo

Internationalization is no longer perceived as a strategy of gradual expansion, but rather a prerequisite for long term survival, not only for larger organizations but also for SMEs and incubated companies. Thus, business incubators have to adapt to this new reality, preparing entrepreneurs for international expansion providing managerial tools, knowledge management support and networking connections. The article presents a technique that prioritizes the choice of key areas for project portfolio management based on the most relevant constructs found in the business literature on internationalization strategies and barriers, business incubators management and international entrepreneurship. The study was carried out as a three stages business oriented research of qualitative and quantitative nature; focusing on the study of internationalization, project management and the development and application of a prioritization tool for project portfolio management in four incubated companies in the city of Natal/RN. The researchers have reached some valuable insights that can be explored to further support the internationalization strategy of incubated companies and the utilization of the Life Cycle Canvas Methodology, such as: 1) the possibility of shared project efforts amongst the incubated companies (cutting costs and improving the business incubators’ processes); 2) the creation of a project portfolio management process (helping incubated companies to prioritize key internationalization); and 3) the development of the concept for a Internationalization Balance Score Card (expanding the scope of the present study into a broader scenario).