SMEs and International Competition: Empirical Evidence for Romanian SMEs

• Author: Ionica Oncioiu - Mihail-Silviu Pocora
• Position: Associate Professor, PhD, 'Tomis' University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania - PhD in progress, 'Al.I. Cuza' Police Academy, Romania
• Pages: 558-564

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives 2012

558

SMEs and International Competition:

Empirical Evidence for Romanian SMEs

Ionica Oncioiu

1

, Mihail-Silviu Pocora

2

Abstract: One of the issues covered by the current debate concerns the future of the na tional economy in a

world in an acc elerated process of globalization. It is, in fact, the transition from national economy to the

global economy as homogenous global space in which national economies are melting and whose back ground

includes a variety of positions since the companies compete g lobally and not states, and structuring is

determined b y the dynamic global economy i ndustries and firms efforts to create competitive advantages.

This paper has as main objective to understand and to approac h the topic of the SMEs in the international

competition, which, being considered a significant resource for those an organization is fundamental for the

creation of the wealth since an appropriate administration takes place a series of benefits. Is i t important to

improve innovation potential, quality and operational excellence?

Keywords: competition; SMEs; internationalization; economy

JEL Classification: F23; D22; O12

1. Introduction

Michael Porter argues, in turn, in his “Competitive advantage of nations”, the effort to assess the

competitiveness of a nation must consider the standard of living result, because we can not talk about a

competitive nation without that country's population has a level high standard of living. Definition, for

example, strictly as part of market competitiveness, worldwide, which covers a country's exports bring

limited and unproductive approach, because it takes into account the economy's ability to create the

nation's welfare.

Increasingly, we are witnessing changes in the business world does not resemble the past. This is why

practitioners advocate for small and medium reinvention from that recognized principles have no

relevance today. Competitiveness crisis facing the sector has not transient. Adam Smith's world and

how it did business are a paradigm of yesterday. It t urned out that a gradual transformation is illusory

moment when radical transformation cannot be postponed.

Recent theories and show new aspects related to the internationalization of business and, especially,

the internationalization of SMEs, which raises a growing interest in academia and business in Europe

and worldwide, while the transformations taking place in the economy beginning XXI century tend to

bring small and medium enterprises at the forefront of economic development, giving them a new

status.

As regards SME internationalization motivations, the literature associated to the two established

categories of motivations for reactive and proactive type: The first category of motives which are

reactive response to the pressures coming company in the business, such as: competitive pressure,

lower domestic sales, excess capacity in relation to market opportunities at home, over-determined by

off factors, the availability of foreign markets, etc.;

1

Associate Professor, PhD, "Tomis" University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania, Corresponding author:

nelly_oncioiu@yahoo.com.

2

PhD in progress, “Al.I. Cuza” Police Academy, Romania, Address: 1A Privighetorilor Alley, sector 1, Bucharest 014031,

Tel: 021/317.55.23, Fax: 021/317.55.17, e-mail: silviupocora@univ-danubius.ro.