Cultural differences, convergence, and crossvergence as explanations of knowledge transfer in international acquisitions

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Sarala, Riikka M.; Vaara, Eero
• 署名单位: Hanken School of Economics; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Greensboro; emlyon business school
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/jibs.2009.89
• 发表日期: 2010
• 页码: 1365-1390
• 关键词: international acquisitions; GLOBE; culture

摘要

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. Journal of International Business Studies (2010) 41, 1365-1390. doi:10.1057/jibs.2009.89