Exploring and evaluating entry strategies for Small and Medium sized Enterprises entering emerging markets: The case of InterContinental Brands and its prospective entry into India

Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally restricted their services to their domestic markets or other slow and limited growth international ventures through modes such as exports to the countries geographically close to them. However with the advent of globalisation and advances in access to information, technology, communications and logistics, SMEs have actively started to scout for opportunities in the international markets. This study investigates on the existing literature with respect to the process of internationalising keeping in mind the risk, resource commitment for an SME along with their returns from this market. This study also explores niche markets for SMEs to internationalise in; providing a pragmatic view to this research conducted. In addition this research aims to provide an entry mode to a resource constrained enterprise, avoiding the learning curve and making the most of the current opportunity without losing out on it during the process of knowledge gathering. This research provides support on how SMEs can hedge the resource commitment while keeping control and achieving their overseas objective through a specific entry strateg