ABSTRACT
In this study, the authors explore whether exporting products can lead to revenue growth for Swiss SMEs. Using a qualitative approach, they seek to grasp as precisely as possible the mechanisms by which firms receive and use export-related know-how by considering the strategies implemented by SMEs that have been exporting for several years compared to those that are just starting to export. The findings of their qualitative study show that regardless of the size, technological capability of the firm, and its export experience, the strategies deployed are identical. However, the process may differ, in terms of both learning and practical implementation. Thus, the study findings are only partially consistent with what has been observed in other empirical studies. In fact, unlike what has already been found, if vertical links stimulate knowledge transfer in specific contexts, it must be recognized that it is somewhat anecdotal when it concerns the exchanges established between the SME and its suppliers.
