Na velocidade da luz? aceleração da internacionalização de empresas born digital brasileiras à luz do modelo de distância institucional cage

Abstract

Technology has increasingly impacted the business world. In this context, it is natural that new Born Digital organizations, with distinct and innovative business models, emerge to compete with traditional companies. Technology also influences the speed of internationalization of these new companies, breaking existing barriers in the process and, in theory, making it faster. However, despite the competitive advantages that technology can deliver, some challenges remain, particularly regarding the institutional distance between the home country and the host countries. The main goal of this study is to explore how Brazilian Born Digital companies overcome barriers imposed by institutional distance in their cross-border operations and accelerate the internationalization process. To achieve this objective, the CAGE model developed by Ghemawat (2001) was adopted, which encompasses distances in the cultural, administrative, geographical, and economic spectrums, serving as guiding elements for the research. Interviews were conducted with five Brazilian Born Digital companies that have already gone through an internationalization process. By employing Grounded Theory and the ATLAS.ti software for data collection and analysis, it was observed among the interviewees the importance of digitalization in various aspects of their companies, from the birth and development of the business model itself to the internationalization process these companies have undergone, including potential barriers that this element also brings, such as the digital maturity element. Among the dimensions in the framework, the cultural dimension was the most prominent among the respondents. The geographical dimension had its importance reduced due to the growing effects of digitalization, while the administrative and economic dimensions found a strong connection, both influenced by the national policies of the countries. The contribution of this study lies in, empirically, filling a gap research in Brazil and Latin America regarding the barriers caused by institutional distance in the internationalization of Born Digital companies; theoretically, by proposing a new version of the CAGE model of institutional distances; and managerially, by offering data and analysis that can assist in the creation of plans and public policies aimed at promoting the internationalization of digitalized companies.