Information Processing among Exporters: An Empirical Examination of Small Firms

As an increasing number of small firms move into export operations, information gathering, analysis, and distribution are critical for successful exporters. These activities are aspects of information processing, a theory that attempts to explain various information elements within organizations. This study examines information processing among small exporters by examining the impact twelve organizational and environmental variables have on three key dimensions of information processing-amount of foreign market information created, horizontal information flow, and vertical information flow. Results suggest that information processing within small firms may not mirror patterns of activities in their larger counterparts.