TY - JOUR

T1 - Explaining employees’ reactions towards a cross-border merger

T2 - the role of English language fluency

AU - Kroon, David P.

AU - Cornelissen, Joep P.

AU - Vaara, Eero

PY - 2015/12

Y1 - 2015/12

N2 - In this paper, we focus on the role of language in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and explore how organization members’ language skills, or fluency, in the adopted lingua franca may impact their reactions to a merger. Drawing on a qualitative study of the post-merger integration between a French and Dutch airline where English was adopted as a lingua franca, we illustrate how language fluency influences the ability of individuals to give meaning to their changed circumstances. Moreover, we elaborate on how language fluency indexes social groupings and identities, and may thus be a driver of perceptions of status inequality and identity politics between different groups of employees. With our study we draw attention to the multi-faceted role of English as a lingua franca. Our findings also contribute to research on sociocultural dynamics associated with post-merger integration and the role of language in mergers and acquisitions, as well as in multinational companies more generally.

AB - In this paper, we focus on the role of language in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and explore how organization members’ language skills, or fluency, in the adopted lingua franca may impact their reactions to a merger. Drawing on a qualitative study of the post-merger integration between a French and Dutch airline where English was adopted as a lingua franca, we illustrate how language fluency influences the ability of individuals to give meaning to their changed circumstances. Moreover, we elaborate on how language fluency indexes social groupings and identities, and may thus be a driver of perceptions of status inequality and identity politics between different groups of employees. With our study we draw attention to the multi-faceted role of English as a lingua franca. Our findings also contribute to research on sociocultural dynamics associated with post-merger integration and the role of language in mergers and acquisitions, as well as in multinational companies more generally.

KW - English language fluency

KW - Cross-border mergers and acquisitions

KW - Identity politics

KW - Status attributions

KW - Perceived anxiety

KW - Post-merger integration

U2 - 10.1007/s11575-015-0259-2

DO - 10.1007/s11575-015-0259-2

M3 - Journal article

VL - 55

SP - 775

EP - 800

JO - Management International Review

JF - Management International Review

SN - 0938-8249

IS - 6

ER -