IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/worbus/v43y2008i1p97-108.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Managing the human side of cross-border acquisitions in South Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Froese, Fabian Jintae
  • Pak, Yong Suhk
  • Chong, Li Choy

Abstract

Since the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, Korea has experienced a dramatic influx of foreign capital directed toward ailing Korean firms. This study shows how three Western companies integrated the human resources and organizational cultures of their Korean target firms and how Korean employees responded to the implemented changes. Data revealed that changes in human resource management and organizational culture were not only tolerated but even appreciated by the employees of Korean target firms. However, organizational culture changes encouraging more individualism and contradicting Confucian values were negatively perceived. The paper concludes with a discussion of the study's practical implications and limitations.

Suggested Citation

  • Froese, Fabian Jintae & Pak, Yong Suhk & Chong, Li Choy, 2008. "Managing the human side of cross-border acquisitions in South Korea," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 97-108, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:43:y:2008:i:1:p:97-108
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090951607000739
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chang, Eunmi, 2003. "Composite effects of extrinsic motivation on work effort: case of Korean employees," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 70-79, February.
    2. Wade M Danis & Arvind Parkhe, 2002. "Hungarian-Western Partnerships: A Grounded Theoretical Model of Integration Processes and Outcomes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 33(3), pages 423-455, September.
    3. Piero Morosini & Scott Shane & Harbir Singh, 1998. "National Cultural Distance and Cross-Border Acquisition Performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 29(1), pages 137-158, March.
    4. Freund, Caroline & Djankov, Simeon, 2000. "Which firms do foreigners buy : evidence from the Republic of Korea," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2450, The World Bank.
    5. Rikard Larsson & Sydney Finkelstein, 1999. "Integrating Strategic, Organizational, and Human Resource Perspectives on Mergers and Acquisitions: A Case Survey of Synergy Realization," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(1), pages 1-26, February.
    6. Schuler, Randall & Jackson, Susan, 2001. "HR issues and activities in mergers and acquisitions," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 239-253, June.
    7. Chung-Ming Lau & David K Tse & Nan Zhou, 2002. "Institutional Forces and Organizational Culture in China: Effects on Change Schemas, Firm Commitment and Job Satisfaction," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 33(3), pages 533-550, September.
    8. Michael Lubatkin & Roland Calori & Philippe Very & John F. Veiga, 1998. "Managing Mergers Across Borders: A Two-Nation Exploration of a Nationally Bound Administrative Heritage," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(6), pages 670-684, December.
    9. Bae, Johngseok & Rowley, Chris, 2001. "The impact of globalization on HRM: the case of South Korea," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 402-428, January.
    10. John F. Veiga & Michael Lubatkin & Roland Calori & Philippe Véry, 2000. "Measuring organizational culture: A two nation post-hoc analysis of a cultural compatibility index," Post-Print hal-02311644, HAL.
    11. Chris Rowley & Johngseok Bae, 2004. "Human Resource Management in South Korea After the Asian Financial Crisis : Emerging Patterns from the Labyrinth," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 52-82, January.
    12. Risberg, Anette, 2001. "Employee experiences of acquisition processes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 58-84, April.
    13. Quah, Penelope & Young, Stephen, 2005. "Post-acquisition Management:: A Phases Approach for Cross-border M&As," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 65-75, February.
    14. James P. Walsh, 1995. "Managerial and Organizational Cognition: Notes from a Trip Down Memory Lane," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(3), pages 280-321, June.
    15. Kim, Kwanghyun & Slocum Jr., John W., 2008. "Individual differences and expatriate assignment effectiveness: The case of U.S.-based Korean expatriates," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 109-126, January.
    16. Michael Rowlinson, 1995. "Strategy, Structure And Culture: Cadbury, Divisionalization And Merger In The 1960s," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 121-140, March.
    17. Allan P. O. Williams, 2006. "Leadership in Change," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Rise of Cass Business School, chapter 15, pages 200-220, Palgrave Macmillan.
    18. Angwin, Duncan, 2004. "Speed in M&A Integration:: The First 100 Days," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 418-430, August.
    19. Yaakov Weber & Oded Shenkar & Adi Raveh, 1996. "National and Corporate Cultural Fit in Mergers/Acquisitions: An Exploratory Study," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(8), pages 1215-1227, August.
    20. Hak-Chong Lee, 1998. "Transformation of Employment Practices in Korean Businesses," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 26-39, December.
    21. Carl F Fey & Ingmar Björkman, 2001. "The Effect of Human Resource Management Practices on MNC Subsidiary Performance in Russia," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 32(1), pages 59-75, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fabian Froese, 2013. "Work values of the next generation of business leaders in Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 297-315, March.
    2. Jaerim Choi & Theresa M. Greaney, 2022. "Global Influences On Gender Inequality: Evidence From Female Employment In Korea," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(1), pages 291-328, February.
    3. Sarabi, Almasa & Froese, Fabian J. & Chng, Daniel H.M. & Meyer, Klaus E., 2020. "Entrepreneurial leadership and MNE subsidiary performance: The moderating role of subsidiary context," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    4. Jieun Chang & Youngho Kang, 2019. "Instrumental Variable Estimates of the Effect of Management Practices on Firm Performance in Korean Firms," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 106-125, March.
    5. Yipeng Liu & Ralf Bebenroth & Yi Yang, 2022. "East-Meets-West: Mergers and Acquisitions challenges and opportunities in and out of Asia," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(5), pages 715-744, November.
    6. Zahoor, Nadia & Khan, Zaheer & Sinkovics, Rudolf R., 2022. "The Role of Emotions in Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions: A Systematic Review of the Inter-Disciplinary Literature and Future Research Agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    7. Jong Min Lee, 2022. "MNCs as dispersed structures of power: Performance and management implications of power distribution in the subsidiary portfolio," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 126-155, February.
    8. Faruk Balli & Eleonora Pierucci, 2015. "Globalization and international risk-sharing: do political and social factors matter more than economic integration?," CAMA Working Papers 2015-04, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    9. Balli, Faruk & Pericoli, Filippo M. & Pierucci, Eleonora, 2018. "Globalization and international risk-sharing: The role of social and political integration," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 324-345.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Timmers, A.D., 2010. "The perceived cultural changes and the changes in identification of the employees during a merger between two airlines," Other publications TiSEM a71f79cd-facf-445a-a0ba-4, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    2. Günter K. Stahl & Andreas Voigt, 2008. "Do Cultural Differences Matter in Mergers and Acquisitions? A Tentative Model and Examination," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 160-176, February.
    3. Satu Teerikangas & Olivier Irrmann, 2016. "Cultural Change Following International Acquisitions: Cohabiting the Tension Between Espoused and Practiced Cultures," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 195-226, April.
    4. Cristian Dîrvă & Anda Simona Rădulescu, 2018. "Managing Resilience to Change in Merger and Acquisitions," Romanian Economic Journal, Department of International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, vol. 21(68), pages 145-160, June.
    5. Shimizu, Katsuhiko & Hitt, Michael A. & Vaidyanath, Deepa & Pisano, Vincenzo, 2004. "Theoretical foundations of cross-border mergers and acquisitions: A review of current research and recommendations for the future," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 307-353.
    6. Zhi Huang & Hong (Susan) Zhu & Daniel J. Brass, 2017. "Cross-border acquisitions and the asymmetric effect of power distance value difference on long-term post-acquisition performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 972-991, April.
    7. Durand, Muriel, 2016. "Employing critical incident technique as one way to display the hidden aspects of post-merger integration," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 87-102.
    8. Yang Zhang, 2018. "Corporate Governance Effects on Risk Management and Shareholder Wealth: The Case of Mergers and Acquisitions," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 4-2018, January-A.
    9. Ahammad, Mohammad Faisal & Tarba, Shlomo Y. & Liu, Yipeng & Glaister, Keith W. & Cooper, Cary L., 2016. "Exploring the factors influencing the negotiation process in cross-border M&A," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 445-457.
    10. Ahammad, Mohammad Faisal & Tarba, Shlomo Yedidia & Liu, Yipeng & Glaister, Keith W., 2016. "Knowledge transfer and cross-border acquisition performance: The impact of cultural distance and employee retention," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 66-75.
    11. Wang, Daojuan & Hain, Daniel S. & Larimo, Jorma & Dao, Li T., 2020. "Cultural differences and synergy realization in cross-border acquisitions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    12. Herings, P.J.J. & van der Laan, G. & Talman, A.J.J., 2005. "The component fairness solution for cycle-free graph games," Research Memorandum 057, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    13. Sung-Jun Lee & Soojin Kim & Joongwha Kim, 2019. "A Comparative Study of Cross-Border and Domestic Acquisition Performances in the South Korean M&A Market: Testing the Two Competing Theories of Culture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, April.
    14. Bauer, Florian & King, David & Matzler, Kurt, 2016. "Speed of acquisition integration: Separating the role of human and task integration," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 150-165.
    15. Strobl, Andreas & Bauer, Florian & Matzler, Kurt, 2020. "The impact of industry-wide and target market environmental hostility on entrepreneurial leadership in mergers and acquisitions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    16. Israel Drori & Amy Wrzesniewski & Shmuel Ellis, 2013. "One Out of Many? Boundary Negotiation and Identity Formation in Postmerger Integration," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(6), pages 1717-1741, December.
    17. 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.
    18. Lee, Sung-Jun & Kim, Joongwha & Park, Byung Il, 2015. "Culture clashes in cross-border mergers and acquisitions: A case study of Sweden's Volvo and South Korea's Samsung," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 580-593.
    19. Larsen, Michael Holm, 2006. "Value Creation through ICT Integration in Merger & Acquisition Processes," Working Papers 2005-8, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Informatics.
    20. Bauer, Florian & Schriber, Svante & Degischer, Daniel & King, David R., 2018. "Contextualizing speed and cross-border acquisition performance: Labor market flexibility and efficiency effects," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 290-301.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:43:y:2008:i:1:p:97-108. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620401/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.