Open Access Article Intercultural Communication

Merging Cultures in International Mergers and Acquisition - A Case Study of Lenovo’s Acquisition of IBM PC Division

Muhammed Abdulai (1) , Hadi Ibrahim (2)
1. Department of Communication, Innovation and Technology University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus, Ghana
2. University for Development Studies - Ministry of Trade and Industry - Ghana
https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v16i2.715

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Issue
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2016)
Submitted
2014 September 10
Published
2016 July 10
Keywords:
    Culture, Merger and Acquisition, Lenovo,, IBM PC Division, Intercultural Relations
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Abstract

This article investigates how the leadership of Lenovo and IBM PC Division integrated their corporate cultures after Lenovo’s acquisition of IBM PC Division. The study identified some post-acquisition cultural integration challenges between Lenovo and IBM PC Division such as: Language and communication differences, power distance, different leadership and managerial styles and difficulties in socializing Lenovo’s corporate culture and IBN PC’s corporate culture into a shared corporate culture. In view of this, the authors recommended that Lenovo and IBM PC Division should build structures, procedures and working environment which promote cultural synergy and adopt a cultural relativistic policy. The authors adopted personal interview data generated by earlier researchers. The data was analysed using a hermeneutic approach of data analysis..

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Authors

Muhammed Abdulai
velgititi@yahoo.com (Primary Contact)
Hadi Ibrahim
Author Biographies

Muhammed Abdulai

Muhammed Abdulai holds M.A (Research) in Culture, Communication and Globalization from Aalborg University, Denmark, M. A (Research) In Cultural Studies, Telemark University College, Norway, and B.A In Philosophy and the Study of Religions from University of Ghana, legon. He is currently an Assistant lecturer at University for Development Studies, Ghana, Department of Communication, Innovation and Technology, Nyankpala campus. He has a book entitled: “Managing Cultural Differences in International Organizations. An analytic study of Intercultural Encounter Among Expatriate Workers and Local Staff of Ibis West Africa, published by Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011.

Hadi Ibrahim

Hadi Ibrahim has a background in marketing at the bachelor’s level from Takoradi Polytechnic and GIMPA in Ghana. He currently holds MSc in International Business Economics from Aalborg University in Denmark. A pioneer in the implementation of Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana and now Assistant Commercial Officer at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Ghana. He has a book entitled “Young Adults Bank selection and Loyalty Decisions” published by GlobeEdit Publishing, 2014, to his credit.

Abdulai, M., & Ibrahim, H. (2016). Merging Cultures in International Mergers and Acquisition - A Case Study of Lenovo’s Acquisition of IBM PC Division. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 16(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v16i2.715
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Copyright (c) 2016 Muhammed Abdulai, Hadi Ibrahim

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Abdulai, M., & Ibrahim, H. (2016). Merging Cultures in International Mergers and Acquisition - A Case Study of Lenovo’s Acquisition of IBM PC Division. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 16(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v16i2.715

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