Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Cultural differences, convergence, and crossvergence as explanations of knowledge transfer in international acquisitions. / Sarala, Riikka M.; Vaara, Eero.
In: Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 41, No. 8, 10.2010, p. 1365-1390.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Cultural differences, convergence, and crossvergence as explanations of knowledge transfer in international acquisitions
AU - Sarala, Riikka M.
AU - Vaara, Eero
PY - 2010/10
Y1 - 2010/10
N2 - In spite of the proliferation of research on cultural differences in international mergers and acquisitions, we lack systematic analyses of the impact of cultural factors on knowledge transfer. In this paper, we argue that both national and organizational cultural differences and cultural integration in the form of cultural convergence and crossvergence affect knowledge transfer in acquisitions. We develop specific hypotheses concerning the nature of these effects, and test our hypotheses with data on international acquisitions carried out by Finnish corporations. The analyses performed show that national cultural differences provide great potential for knowledge transfer in international acquisitions. Furthermore, organizational cultural convergence and crossvergence have a significant positive impact on knowledge transfer. In particular, convergence and crossvergence moderate the impact of national cultural differences on knowledge transfer.
AB - In spite of the proliferation of research on cultural differences in international mergers and acquisitions, we lack systematic analyses of the impact of cultural factors on knowledge transfer. In this paper, we argue that both national and organizational cultural differences and cultural integration in the form of cultural convergence and crossvergence affect knowledge transfer in acquisitions. We develop specific hypotheses concerning the nature of these effects, and test our hypotheses with data on international acquisitions carried out by Finnish corporations. The analyses performed show that national cultural differences provide great potential for knowledge transfer in international acquisitions. Furthermore, organizational cultural convergence and crossvergence have a significant positive impact on knowledge transfer. In particular, convergence and crossvergence moderate the impact of national cultural differences on knowledge transfer.
KW - international acquisitions
KW - GLOBE
KW - culture
U2 - 10.1057/jibs.2009.89
DO - 10.1057/jibs.2009.89
M3 - Journal article
VL - 41
SP - 1365
EP - 1390
JO - Journal of International Business Studies
JF - Journal of International Business Studies
SN - 0047-2506
IS - 8
ER -