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Browsing by Author "Yordanova, Desislava"

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    Democratizing entrepreneurship? Digital technologies and the internationalization of female‐led SMEs
    (2019) Pergelova, Albena; Manolova, Tatiana; Simeonova‐Ganeva, Ralitsa; Yordanova, Desislava
    This study examines how digital technologies affect the international expansion of female‐led small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Digital technologies have the potential to democratize entrepreneurship by providing access to international market knowledge and facilitating interactions with customers and partners. Building on the original Penrosean specification of the resource‐based view and the notion of versatility of resources, we propose that digital technologies impact positively SME internationalization through the mediation of international market intelligence. Furthermore, we posit that female entrepreneurs will leverage the enabling effects of digital technologies more than their male counterparts. The hypotheses are tested on a representative sample of 300 Bulgarian SMEs. Implications for policy and research are advanced.
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    Digital technologies and the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises
    (2024) Yordanova, Desislava; Dana, Leo-Paul; Manolova, Tatiana S.; Pergelova, Albena
    Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make important contributions to sustainable economic growth, employment, poverty alleviation, local development, and human wellbeing in developed and developing countries. SMEs are also increasingly active international players due to the technological advances that have lowered the risks and costs of foreign market entry. The key among these technological advances is the advent of digital technologies. Indeed, as early as 2010, Etemad, Wilkinson, and Dana noted that “internetization” is a pre-requisite for internationalization in the new economy. Previous research has revealed complex links between internationalization, digitalization, and sustainability in the context of SMEs, and observed that this field is rapidly evolving; however, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about the relationship between digitalization and SME internationalization. Hence, this Special Issue focused on unraveling various ways in which digital technologies affect the internationalization of SMEs. In this Editorial, we present a brief overview of the topic of SME internationalization, followed by the role of digital technology in the internationalization process, and finally offer a summary of the articles in this Special Issue.
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    Entrepreneurship education and its gendered effects on feasibility, desirability and intentions for technology entrepreneurship among STEM students
    (2023) Pergelova, Albena; Angulo-Ruiz, Fernando; Manolova, Tatiana; Yordanova, Desislava
    This study aims to examine how entrepreneurship education influences intentions for starting a technology venture among science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students with particular attention to gender differences. This study builds on the model of entrepreneurial event and social role theory to assess the impact of entrepreneurship education on feasibility, desirability and intentions for technology entrepreneurship.
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    Gender and international entry mode
    (2018) Pergelova, Albena; Angulo-Ruiz, Fernando; Yordanova, Desislava
    This article examines whether male- and female-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt different strategic directions when internationalising. We build on the notion of gendered socialisation and the resource-based view examining gender differences in international entry modes. We also analyse several contingencies in the relationship between gender and internationalisation. Findings indicate that female-led SMEs are more likely to internationalise via export than foreign direct investment (FDI). The results challenge conventional wisdom on the role of resources and capabilities accumulated with manager age in the process of internationalisation; younger female chief executive officers are more likely to internationalise via FDI. The results offer novel insights to the literature on internationalisation of SMEs calling for more attention towards the interplay of social norms and gendered structural arrangements, on the one hand, and entrepreneurial agency, on the other, for a better understanding of the internationalisation of female-led SMEs.
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    The human element in digital transformation: the role of talent management for SMEs
    (2024) Pergelova, Albena; Yordanova, Desislava
    The role of digitalization for business performance has attracted significant research interest. While many studies have advanced the literature with insights on digital tools and strategies, what is less well understood is the role of the human factor in this process. The objective of this study is to assess the role of the human element in the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Theoretically, we draw on sociotechnical theory and dynamic capabilities to underline the importance of integrating the technology and human aspects for enhancing SME performance. Empirically, we use a representative dataset of 1,000 Bulgarian SMEs and perform structural equations modeling. Our findings reveal that the existence of digital strategies by themselves may not lead to improved performance unless they are well integrated with the appropriate talent management practices that support organizational agility. The results underscore the importance of considering the pathways through which digital strategy affects organizational performance for SMEs.