Do Cultural Differences Make a Business Difference? : Contextual Factors Affecting Cross‐cultural Relationship Success

Argues that, although cultural differences clearly affect relationships within organizations, tensions are often triggered first by other contextual factors. Presents the findings of a study of foreign acquisitions of US firms, and demonstrates how problems between the two partners most often arise out of strategic, organizational, political and financial issues. Describes the factors which determine the success of mergers between partners where different cultural values are involved.