IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/jintbs/v46y2015i7p830-849.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fit, misfit, and beyond fit: Relational metaphors and semantic fit in international joint ventures

Author

Listed:
  • Leigh Anne Liu

    (Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA)

  • Wendi L Adair

    (Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)

  • Daniel C Bello

    (Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA)

Abstract

We propose that metaphorical descriptions of newly formed international joint ventures (IJVs) contain important, diagnostic information regarding the way these cross-border alliances are managed and perform. In three studies, we examine how relational metaphors reflect semantic fit, or the IJV partners’ cognitive match of managerial schemas and their capability to recontextualize communications regarding alliance operations. We find IJV partners that share relational metaphors achieve superior outcomes, reflecting aligned managerial approaches to controlling shared resources and joint activities. Further, formal ownership as equity share moderates the impact managerial schemas implied by metaphors have on subjective, time-lagged performance of IJVs. Our analysis of metaphorical language not only reveals the way newly formed IJVs are managed, but also highlights performance variations associated with complex patterns of IJV controls.

Suggested Citation

  • Leigh Anne Liu & Wendi L Adair & Daniel C Bello, 2015. "Fit, misfit, and beyond fit: Relational metaphors and semantic fit in international joint ventures," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(7), pages 830-849, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:46:y:2015:i:7:p:830-849
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/journal/v46/n7/pdf/jibs201513a.pdf
    File Function: Link to full text PDF
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/journal/v46/n7/full/jibs201513a.html
    File Function: Link to full text HTML
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    ---><---

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

    Citations

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


    Cited by:

    1. Hongxin Zhao & Jieqiong Ma & Jie Yang, 2017. "30 Years of Research on Entry Mode and Performance Relationship: A Meta-Analytical Review," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 653-682, October.
    2. Obadia, Claude & Bello, Daniel C., 2019. "How to select an export mode without bias," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 171-183.
    3. Marius G. Gehrisch & Stefan Süß, 2023. "Organizational behavior in international strategic alliances and the relation to performance – a literature review and avenues for future research," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 1045-1107, September.
    4. Magnani, Giovanna & Gioia, Denny, 2023. "Using the Gioia Methodology in international business and entrepreneurship research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    5. Huang, Ming-Chang & Chiu, Ya-Ping, 2020. "A knowledge tension perspective on management control and performance in international joint ventures," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    6. Golesorkhi, Sougand & Mersland, Roy & Piekkari, Rebecca & Pishchulov, Grigory & Randøy, Trond, 2019. "The effect of language use on the financial performance of microfinance banks: Evidence from cross-border activities in 74 countries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 213-229.
    7. Alfredo Jimenez & Jonas Holmqvist & Diego Jimenez, 2019. "Cross-Border Communication and Private Participation Projects: The Role of Genealogical Language Distance," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(6), pages 1009-1033, December.
    8. Owens, Martin & Ramsey, Elaine & Loane, Sharon, 2018. "Resolving post-formation challenges in shared IJVs: The impact of shared IJV structure on inter-partner relationships," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 584-593.
    9. Michael Nippa & Jeffrey J Reuer, 2019. "On the future of international joint venture research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 555-597, June.
    10. Lojacono, Gabriella & Misani, Nicola & Tallman, Stephen, 2017. "Offshoring, local market entry, and the strategic context of cross-border alliances: The impact on the governance mode," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 435-447.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:jintbs:v:46:y:2015:i:7:p:830-849. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/ .

    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.