In order to keep up with increasing competition companies use acquisitions to change or grow. Acquisitions are changes, and they do have an impact on organizations and its employees. When an acquisition takes place, two previously independent organizations and organizational cultures comes into contact, which causes changes in those cultures. These changes and the adaptation of the cultures can be described by the context of acculturation. Previous research in acculturation mainly focuses on determinants or acculturation outcomes. This study will therefore study the acculturation process. The purpose of this thesis is to describe and understand what the acculturation process look like after an acquisition. The method chosen for this thesis is qualitative, and the information has been collected by using semi-structured interviews. The study is a multiple case study and three cases are studied. We conclude that the acculturation process of acquired company is affected by several factors. What does the acculturation process look like after an acquisition can be understood by looking at these different factors and by finding reasons for what these factors are. Most strikingly, this study found that the acculturation process could not be understood separately from the acquisition process. Furthermore, in theory proposed agreements are not made in practice. The outcomes of this research are presented in a new model of the process of acculturation.

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1975. / Bibliography: leaves 136-143. / x, 143 leaves ill

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Sciences du langage : Metz : 2003. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Notes bibliographiques.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 26-36).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1983. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-104).

Thesis (doctoral)--Stockholms universitet, 1980. / Summaries in English and Turkish. Includes bibliographical references (p. 260-267).

Th.--Hist.--Paris 1, 1986.

No description available.

No description available.

A framework for the study of acculturation in terms of the larger historical context was developed through research on the Tarahumara Indians of the Sierra Madre in northern Mexico. A new definition of acculturation based on concepts from symbolic anthropology is presented. Acculturation is defined as a complex process of social interaction based on two sets of cultural symbols. Field research focused on a community of Tarahumaras and Mestizo Mexicans. Spanish and Mexican efforts to integrate the Tarahumaras into a larger political system are examined since acculturation is assumed to be integrally related to these processes. The roles of the principal participants in acculturation: traditional Tarahumaras, nontraditional Tarahumaras, Mestizos and mainstream Mexicans and their relationships to each other were examined. Sierra acculturation processes were mainly analyzed in terms of traditional Tarahumaras and Mestizo symbols, their inherent compatibility, and their use in a number of different social contexts in the community. Mainstream Mexicans are mainly involved in national integration efforts which affected both Tarahumaras and Mestizos. Formal education seemed to be the fastest and most effective means through which Tarahumaras were being integrated into the national structure. Nontraditional Tarahumaras were prominant in putting bilingual Indian education programs into effect in the Sierra. In the community it was found that nontraditional Tarahumaras are significantly linked to traditional Tarahumaras, that in spite of strong cultural barriers, Tarahumaras and Mestizos have developed working relationships with each other and that Tarahumara and Mestizo symbols were used not only in common social interactions, but also in political and economic realms. Rather than 'becoming Mestizo,' Tarahumara cultural identity was maintained through the use of central Tarahumara symbols, by redefining Mestizo symbols in Tarahumara social contexts and by using Mestizo symbols (e.g., the Spanish language) in practical ways. The fact that some of the most politically and economically influential members of the community were Tarahumaras provided additional support to the maintenance of Tarahumara cultural identity. It is concluded that Tarahumaras may change their lifestyle and appearance, but depending on how Tarahumara and Mestizo symbols are used, and in which contexts, Tarahumara cultural identity can persist in the face of national integration efforts.