Abstract:

In the context of a globalized economy, the international engagement of family businesses has become a subject of increasing concern for the academic community. This concern is primarily driven by the unique characteristics of these businesses, such as their specific shareholding structure, governance mechanisms, and managerial practices. In this regard, the fundamental assertion of this article, which is informed by a contextualist perspective rooted in agency and stewardship theories, leads us to consider that the international orientation of the owner-manager appears as catalyst for identifying and consolidating new business opportunities. To further explore this concept, we employed an exploratory qualitative approach, which involved conducting semi-structured interviews with owner-managers of family-run SMEs in Cameroon. These interviews were conducted from January to March of 2024. The subsequent content analysis of their discourse in six cases of identified companies reveals that the international orientation of the owner-manager, when supported by a prudent, progressive attitude, is conducive to the company's international development. The emphasis here is on three essential dimensions: the owner-manager's knowledge, professional/personal experience, the building of personal and collaborative networks, and a limited perception of the risks on foreign markets. The following managerial contributions are identified.

Keywords: International commitment, international orientation, family owned SMES, owner-manager, qualitative approach