Retrospective and prospective learning: Accelerating the internationalization process

•This longitudinal case study examines a firm’s learning processes and progress as it grows internationally.•Results show that the firm developed and steepened its retrospective learning capability in response to failings.•Over time the firm learned it to identify and respond to internationalization problems rapidly.•The firm developed prospective learning to plan the development of knowledge capabilities for future internationalization.•This capability accelerated learning and enhanced the speed and effectiveness of the internationalization. This paper contributes theoretical understanding to the learning processes adopted by firms for successful internationalization. Drawing from the internationalization process and organizational learning research, our longitudinal case study examines a firm’s learning processes as it grows internationally. In different phases and in different areas the firm learned at different paces, gradual and steep, and by responding retrospectively to past failings, and prospectively to anticipated challenges. From case data we identify and develop four constructs of internationalization learning: Gradual Retrospective, Steep Retrospective, Gradual Prospective, and Steep Prospective learning. The appropriateness of each depends on the urgency towards addressing challenges, and the firm’s learning capabilities. Firms can develop and steepen retrospective learning capability, enabling rapid identification and response to internationalization problems. Firms can also employ prospective learning to plan the development of knowledge capabilities ahead of future internationalization activity, to accelerate their learning, and increase the speed and effectiveness of internationalization.