Title: The paradox of agreement and similarity: how goal (In) congruence and psychic distance may determine international human resource strategy success

Authors: Margaret B. Takeda, Marilyn M. Helms

Addresses: University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, 995 Regent Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0419, USA. ' Sesquicentennial Chair and Professor of Management, Dalton State College, 650 College Dr. Dalton, GA 30720, USA

Abstract: Most researchers and practitioners agree when a parent organisation and its international units share similar goals and cultures; it is easier to implement International Human Resources Management (IHRM) policies. But, what if differences in goals and cultures lead to adaptations that improve performance? This paper argues that high levels of agreement and similarity in the parent company and local unit(s) will have a negative impact on IHRM strategy success because subtle differences in the cultural distance will not be explicitly determined. This study adds new learning perspectives to IHRM strategy literature and a methodology for testing the postulates.

Keywords: international human resource management; HRM; goal congruence; psychic distance; goals; organisational cultures; improved performance; agreement; similarity; parent companies; cultural distance; strategic management; human resource development; HRD.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2010.031438

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2010 Vol.10 No.2, pp.101 - 116

Published online: 03 Feb 2010 *

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