04251nam a22002777a 4500 260505t2024 bx d|||g m||| 00| 0 eng d Universiti Teknologi Brunei eng UTB UTB 120 REPORT THESIS & DISSERTATION RTDS 425 Syahnur Farhana Binti Haji Shahlehi author. An Exploration Study on The Determinants of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Internationalisation: The Case of Halal Food Processing Industry in Brunei Darussalam / Syahnur Farhana Binti Haji Shahlehi Bandar Seri Begawan : Universiti Teknologi Brunei, ©2024 340 pages : charts, photos ; 30 cm. Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of The Requirements for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy ABSTRACT Previous studies have fallen short of determining a comprehensive set of factors affecting the SMEs' decision to venture into the international arena, specifically within the Halal food industry where export engagement is reported to be low. Drawing on Dynamic Capabilities, Knowledge-Based View, and buttressed by Uppsala Model, this study aims to explore how the entrepreneurial, organisational, and external factors influence and hinder Bruneian Halal food processing SMEs to export. This qualitative study incorporates a case study approach and undertakes semi-structured interviews involving a total of eleven SMEs, consisting of four exporting SMEs and seven non-exporting SMEs. These SMEs were selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. In addition to documentary analysis, several government agencies were also interviewed to enrich the findings. Thematic analysis in the forms of within-case analysis and cross-case analysis were conducted and this study found that entrepreneurial factors influencing SME internationalisation include a willingness to take risks, possession of knowledge and experience, innovation, adaptability, commitment, and networking abilities. Conversely, lack of creativity and competitiveness, risk aversion, and negative mind-sets, pose as hindering entrepreneurial factors. This study further revealed that organisational factors influencing SME internationalisation include access to adequate production and financial resources, high production capacity, effective marketing efforts, as well as availability of innovative and internationally Halal-certified products, in contrast to limited resources, low production capacity, and unsuitable product offerings, as hindering organisational factors. For the external factors, this study affirmed foreign intermediaries as influential factors and identified the role of local government assistance as both influencing and hindering elements in SME internationalisation. Additionally, challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and blaming culture further emerged as significant external factors affecting both exporting and non-exporting SMEs, exacerbating the process of SME internationalisation. This study contributes valuable insights to the body of knowledge in the under-researched fields of internationalisation and Halal spheres within the SME context. It also offers practical implications and recommendations for the practitioners and policymakers aimed at advancing the country's goal of internationalisation, which serves as a pivotal step towards economic diversification. One limitation of this study is the participation of only a small sample size as some Bruneian SMEs declined to participate. Consequently, this may affect the analytical generasibility of the findings. Thesis (PHD) -Universiti Teknologi Brunei, 2024 Includes Bibliographical references from page 264-310 Universiti Teknologi Brunei Final Year Report Universiti Teknologi Brunei Thesis Halal Food Industry Brunei Darussalam Small Business Brunei Darussalam International Bussiness Enterprise Brunei Darussalam Kamariah Binti Ismail Professor Dr supervisor Farahiyah Binti Haji Kawi Dr Hajah co-supervisor lc RTDS 0 Report, Thesis & Dissertation 850643:002478 c.1_UTB Universiti Teknology Brunei 24035 24035 0 0 lc 0 0 UTB UTB Level 2 2025-10-04 Universiti Teknologi Brunei 0 UTB 120 REPORT THESIS & DISSERTATION, RTDS 425 850643 2026-05-05 2026-05-05 RTDS Reg. No.002478_UTB [RTDS 425]