A multilevel perspective to the study of export venture performance

Purpose: We present several opportunities that can emerge from using a multilevel approach to study the antecedents of export venture performance, and provide scholars with the conceptual and practical tools for developing multilevel models of export venture success. Design/methodology/approach: Essay. Findings: The paper shows the problems which scholars face if they continue to engage in using single venture data to test models that are inherently multilevel in nature. Research limitations/implications: There may be a need to revisit previous works that utilize samples of single ventures to assess models of export venture performance that are implicitly multilevel. Practical implications: The paper outlines the practical issues that researchers need to consider when conducting multilevel research in the export venture performance field. Originality/value: The paper is the first to focus on the multilevel nature of the export venture performance construct.