STRATEGY TRIPOD: THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL AGENTS IN THE INTERNATIONALIZATION PROCESS/TRIPE DA ESTRATEGIA: O PAPEL DOS AGENTES INSTITUCIONAIS NO PROCESSO DE INTERNACIONALIZACAO/TRIPODE DE LA ESTRATEGIA: EL PAPEL DE LOS AGENTES INSTITUCIONALES EN EL PROCESO DE INTERNACIONALIZACION

Objective: To understand the role of institutional agents in the internationalization process from the perspective of the strategy tripod. Method: A single case study was developed to investigate the internationalization of five companies that are associated to an institutional agent, under three categories of analysis--internationalization from economic, behavioral, and institutional perspectives. Main results: As an institutional agent, the studied entity is crucial to the internationalization process of its associates, depending on the size and export's experience. From an economic perspective, it coordinates the identification of new markets. In behavioral, it dynamizes the gradualism of international insertion and building relationship networks. In the institutional, it develops a collaborative environment, legitimizing the conversion of informal institutions into formal ones. Relevance/originality: Empirical studies supported by the strategy tripod are usually limited to categorizing the elements of resources, industry, and institutions separately. The perspective of analysis from institutional agents allows to evaluate the effects of their actions in a comprehensive and interrelated way. Theoretical contribution: The interrelation between the elements of the strategy's tripod is evidenced, promoted by institutional agents from emerging countries. Institutional agents act as consolidators of collective actions, reinforcing their role in building informal and formal institutions, mitigating opportunistic acts that could vilify collective actions in building trust and facilitating access to resources and knowledge as well. Managerial contributions: The research offers an opportunity to reflect on the positioning of sectorial representative entities that can improve their actions, given that the contributions perceived by members and the points of improvement identified and highlighted by them Keywords Strategy Internationalization process Institution-based view Strategy tripod Institutional agents Objetivo: compreender o papel dos agentes institucionais no processo de internacionalizacao, na perspectiva do tripe da estrategia. Metodo: foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso unico para investigar a internacionalizacao de cinco empresas que sao associadas a um agente institucional, sob tres categorias de analise--internacionalizacao sob a otica economica, comportamental e institucional. Principais resultados: enquanto agente institucional, a entidade e crucia