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Attributional tendencies in cultural explanations of M&A performance

Author

Listed:
  • Eero Vaara
  • Paulina Junni
  • Riikka M. Sarala
  • Mats Ehrnrooth
  • Alexei Koveshnikov

Abstract

This paper focuses on managers' attributions of M&A performance. Our analysis indicates that there is a linear association between performance and attributions to cultural differences, which is moderated by prior experience. Furthermore, our results suggest that there is a curvilinear association between performance and attributions to managers' actions, but we found no support for the moderating effect of experience for this association. By substantiating these attributional tendencies, our results contribute to research on M&As and studies on attribution more generally. In particular, our study helps to put cultural differences in perspective and cautions researchers and practitioners alike to avoid simplistic explanations of M&A performance. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Eero Vaara & Paulina Junni & Riikka M. Sarala & Mats Ehrnrooth & Alexei Koveshnikov, 2014. "Attributional tendencies in cultural explanations of M&A performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(9), pages 1302-1317, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:35:y:2014:i:9:p:1302-1317
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.2163
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    2. Smeulders, Dieter & Dekker, Henri C. & Van den Abbeele, Alexandra, 2023. "Post-acquisition integration: Managing cultural differences and employee resistance using integration controls," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Teerikangas, Satu & Thanos, Ioannis C., 2018. "Looking into the ‘black box’ – unlocking the effect of integration on acquisition performance," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 366-380.
    4. Gudmundsson, Sveinn Vidar & Merkert, Rico & Redondi, Renato, 2020. "Cost structure effects of horizontal airline mergers and acquisitions," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 136-144.
    5. Anne-Sophie Thelisson & Olivier Meier, 2022. "Managerial biases during a merger process in a government-controlled organization," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(4), pages 1315-1338, December.
    6. Abhijith Anand & Rajeev Sharma & Rajiv Kohli, 2017. "What Influences Managerial Use of Business Analytic Systems? A Theory of Performance-Driven Search," Working Papers in Economics 17/12, University of Waikato.
    7. Hong Zhu & Qi Zhu, 2016. "Mergers and acquisitions by Chinese firms: A review and comparison with other mergers and acquisitions research in the leading journals," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 1107-1149, December.
    8. Abhijith Anand & Rajeev Sharma & Rajiv Kohli, 2020. "The Effects of Operational and Financial Performance Failure on BI&A-Enabled Search Behaviors: A Theory of Performance-Driven Search," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1144-1163, December.
    9. Campagnolo, Diego & Vincenti, Giampiero, 2022. "Cross-border M&As: The impact of cultural friction and CEO change on the performance of acquired companies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    10. Gerard P. Hodgkinson & Barbara Burkhard & Nicolai J. Foss & Dietmar Grichnik & Riikka M. Sarala & Yi Tang & Marc Van Essen, 2023. "The Heuristics and Biases of Top Managers: Past, Present, and Future," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1033-1063, July.
    11. Qi Ai & Hui Tan, 2018. "The intra-firm knowledge transfer in the outward M&A of EMNCs: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 399-425, June.
    12. Xu, Kai & Hitt, Michael A. & Brock, David & Pisano, Vincenzo & Huang, Lulu S.R., 2021. "Country institutional environments and international strategy: A review and analysis of the research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    13. Schriber, Svante, 2016. "Nordic strategy research—Topics, theories, and trends," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 220-230.

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