Consultancy services for internationalisation are crucial to help companies to grow and find new businesses abroad. This kind of service used to be provided by consultancy firms operating in the home country of the clients. Considering the advantages of partnerships that theory has enhanced, this paper aims to identify the motivations and perceived opportunities from consultancy firms to establish business-to-business partnerships with international consultancy companies in other countries, with the purpose of reinforcing international trading.,As an exploratory study, this paper shows the perspective of 13 interviewed German consultancy managers focused on international business about developing a partnership with international consultancy firms from Portugal.,Consultants indicate that with mutual benefits, partnerships are welcome. However, the study enhances the importance of signals of status and reputation for international partnerships among business consultancy firms and reveals a lack of knowledge about the market opportunities for internationalisation that might motivate German consultancy firms to establish partnerships with consultancy companies in Portugal.,The paper highlights the low motivation of consultants from a higher-status country to establish partnerships with international business consultancy firms in lower-status countries. The study addresses useful recommendations for consultancy firms, governments and international trade agencies to intensify marketing activities and enhance country reputation and positioning in international business, communicating the opportunities and potential of markets and building signals of status and reputation for international consulting.

中文翻译：

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国际商业咨询公司之间建立伙伴关系的动机和机遇

国际化的咨询服务对于帮助公司在海外发展和寻找新业务至关重要。这种服务以前是由在客户所在国家/地区运营的咨询公司提供的。考虑到理论上已经增强的合伙制的优势，本文旨在确定咨询公司与其他国家的国际咨询公司建立企业对企业合作伙伴关系的动机和可察觉的机会，以加强国际贸易。通过探索性研究，本文显示了13位接受采访的德国咨询经理的观点，这些经理专注于国际业务，与葡萄牙的国际咨询公司建立合作伙伴关系。顾问指出，互惠互利，欢迎合作伙伴关系。然而，该研究增强了商业咨询公司之间国际伙伴关系的地位和声誉信号的重要性，并揭示了对国际化市场机会的了解不足，这可能会促使德国的咨询公司与葡萄牙的咨询公司建立合作伙伴关系。来自地位较高国家/地区的顾问与位于地位较低国家/地区的国际商业咨询公司建立合作伙伴关系的动力很低。该研究报告为咨询公司，政府和国际贸易机构提供了有用的建议，以加强营销活动并提高国家在国际业务中的声誉和地位，