Internationalization manager’s identity and authority identification:staffing of the export department in Greek internationalized manufacturing companies

摘要

The research objective of this paper is to examine the staffing procedure of the internationalization department of the company in reference to the origin of the individuals selected to compose it. Subsequently, we endeavour to outline the identity of the individual at the head of internationalization, where a special department doesn’t exist. Additionally, we attempt to recognize the overall responsibilities and authority spaces of the internationalization manager. Results implied the preference of individuals experienced in matters of internationalization, for the staffing of the department. Most times the owner/co-owner undertakes internationalization responsibilities, where an internationalization department is absent, fact that was negatively correlated with the size of the company. Moreover, we observed that along with internationalization issues, such as international sales, internationalization managers mainly have to deal with the domain of domestic sales as well. Results presented in this paper, concern small, medium and large size companies of various industry sectors.