THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF ENTERPRISES IN THE FACE OF GLOBALIZATION – IDENTIFICATION OF KEY ISSUES AND MODELS

Purpose:The purpose of this paper is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on business internationalization, with a focus on assessing the level of scholarly interest in the topic over time, identifying key thematic areas within the literature, and determining the relative popularity of different internationalization models.Design/methodology/approach: The study employs bibliometric analysis to achieve its research objectives.Data extracted from the Web of Science database were analyzed using VOSviewer software, allowing for the identification of publication trends, key thematic areas, and the relative prevalence of various internationalization models in academic literature.The study provides a quantitative overview of the field, mapping research interests and conceptual developments within the domain of business internationalization. Findings:The study reveals a growing academic interest in business internationalization, with publication activity peaking in 2019.Bibliometric analysis identified key thematic areas, including internationalization processes, performance outcomes, strategies, knowledge transfer, and the role of SMEs.The analysis also mapped the prevalence of internationalization models, with Foreign Direct Investment being the most frequently referenced, followed by the Network Approach, Born Global, Resource-Based View, and the Uppsala Model.Research limitations/implications: This study is limited to Web of Science data, excluding other sources.The bibliometric approach lacks qualitative assessment and does not verify keyword co-occurrence, potentially overestimating references to internationalization models.Future research should integrate multiple databases, qualitative analysis, and temporal trends.Originality/value: The study maps research trends in business internationalization, highlighting key themes and dominant models.It offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners exploring international business dynamics.