Business model innovation and entrepreneurial orientation relationships in SMEs: Implications for international performance

Academic research is increasingly emphasizing the critical role of business models (BMs) and business model innovation (BMI) in the international entrepreneurship (IE) domain, yet empirical studies on the topic are quite limited. This study demo0nstrates the role of BMI and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in the internationalization of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, we explored the mediating role of BMI in the relationship between EO and international performance among internationalizing SMEs. Drawing on a cross-industrial sample of 95 international Finnish SMEs, we empirically test the hypothesized relationships by developing a confirmatory factor analysis measurement model with subsequent application of ordinary least squares multiple regression. The results suggest that BMI positively and significantly mediates the relationship between EO and international performance. In addition, EO has a positive and significant effect on SMEs' BMI. Thus, the findings of the study imply that both BMI and EO are important drivers of international performance for internationalizing SMEs. The study contributes to the IE literature by illustrating the dynamics of BMI and providing evidence of the linkages between strategic orientations and BMI in the international performance of SMEs.