Keele Research Repository

Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasing their international networking and knowledge acquisition activities. This paper attempts to explain this phenomenon by examining the joint influence of leader global mind-set and firms’ international entrepreneurial orientation on those two internationalisation activities. A conceptual model was developed and tested with data from a sample of 208 SMEs in China. The results indicate that both leader global mind-set and firm’s international entrepreneurial orientation have a direct impact on Chinese SMEs’ international networking and knowledge acquisition activities; in addition, leader global mind-set has an indirect effect through the mediation of firms’ international entrepreneurial orientation. The findings of this study provide important theoretical and practical implications.