An emotion-based view of acquisition integration capability

We propose an emotion-based view of acquisition integration capability by developing an inter-firm model that focuses on dealing constructively with emotions during various organizational identification processes following mergers and acquisitions. The model describes diverse types of organizational actions that elicit or express emotions-called emotional dynamics-that facilitate stabilization, destabilization, and re-identification of acquired employees' organizational identity. Emotional dynamics that elicit emotions among acquired employees or express acquirer's emotions toward acquired employees constitute what we call emotional pairing. This emotion-based view of integration capability complements extant process research that has emphasized cognition and structure.