Priscilla M. Elsass

Acculturation in Acquired Organizations: A Force-Field Perspective:

The acculturation process involved when one organization is acquired by another, and the two organizational cultures merge, has not been adequately conceptualized in the strategic management literature. It is argued here that the acculturation process can be more fully understood by utilizing Lewins (1951) force-field approach. In addition, major forces of cultural differentiation and organizational integration are identified. It is also argued that the dynamic acculturative change process will both influence and be influenced by postacquisition organizational performance. Predictions as to how post-acquisition performance influences subsequent acculturation modes are offered.

Individual Responses to the Stress of Career Plateauing

This article develops a model of the stress cycle caused by career plateauing and describes the range of possible coping responses of plateaued individuals. The selection of a coping response is viewed as being moderated by a set of individual and organizationalfactors that are associated with career development and maintenance. Based upon these moderating factors, six propositions are presented regarding an individuals choice of a coping response.

Sex and sex dissimilarity effects in ongoing teams: Some surprising findings

This study examined the effects of sex and sex dissimilarity on the task and social experiences of members of ongoing teams of management students. We hypothesized that women would have lower levels of social exchange, and ultimately, lower levels of attachment to their groups than would men, and that there would be no sex differences in task exchanges or task contributions. Sex dissimilarity between individuals and their teams was expected to impair individuals’ experiences. As predicted, women had lower social exchanges than men. There were no sex differences in attachment. Surprisingly, women had higher task exchanges and made greater task contributions. Sex dissimilarity had no effect on the experiences of men or women. Overall, women seemed to do more work or better work, but receive less social support, than did men.