“The ability to implement best practices in a way that is acceptable in local situations and create alignment across
different cultural and business environments is, in part, the domain of HRM” (Friedman, 2007, p. 164). Cultural
differences across international borders create execution problems for global HR managers (Kapoor, 2011) and
require the alignment of HR practices with leadership support. These cultural differences also call on HR to step
forward as a strategic partner. One method that global HR leaders can use to address and overcome potential
execution problems is through a deeper understanding of culture, individual cultural competency, and crosscultural
competence. Barrera (2010) placed a strong emphasis on the role of cultural differences and
misunderstandings as reasons behind the high failure rates of mergers and acquisitions. The handling of
intercultural issues by a MNC is correlated with the performance of the merger in the post-integration stage and
long-term success or failure. Culture is defined as the result of human interactions in which people meet,
communicate, and interact. Another avenue to define culture is to say that it is comprised of expected ways of
thinking, feeling, and reacting, which are acquired and transmitted using symbols that are the unique
accomplishments of groups of people.