Second, cultural mapping identifies any disconnects between the expectations of buyers and sellers. A lack of congruence is common as buyers tend to “soften” intentions
during the precom bination courtship that is, they talk “merger” but intend
“acquisition”and sellers tend to downplay or ignore the threat to their status quo
through “wishful hearing” during sale negotiations (Marks, 2000). Moreover, as Nahvandi
and Malek zadeh (1988) note, acquired parties approach acculturation based on the
extent to which members want to preserve their own culture and the degree to which
they are willing to adapt to the acquirer’s culture; acquirers, in contrast, approach acculturation based on the degrees of multiculturalism in their organization and relatedness of the firms. Incongruence between expectations is likely to lead acculturative stress.” Key employees may leave, active resistance to integration may occur, and conflict is apt to erupt