Structured Abstract
Purpose: To investigate, through a multidimensional approach, how an internationalizing e-tail SME cultivates certain capabilities that enhance its e-commerce and performance.
Design/methodology: The paper is based on longitudinal, single-case data from an internationalizing electronic retail (e-tail) SME in Sweden.
Findings: The findings imply that while capability development, in general, is important for e-tail SMEs, the development of digitalization and marketing capabilities have the most significant impact on overall performance for these kinds of retailers.
Originality: By extending knowledge about how three types of capabilities (internationalization capability, digitalization capability, and marketing capability) can be developed in tandem, this study contributes to international marketing research on how e-tail SMEs can work with capability development to boost their performance.