Any technological advance, innovation or economic growth created by an organization is dependent on how that organization's culture and environment fosters or inhibits these developments. This process is further complicated by the global nature of economic activity and differences in national cultures due to country-specific histories, experiences, traditions and rules. The distinguished authors in this important new book aim to study the nature of organizational innovation and change by examining the complex interplay between entrepreneurship, innovation and culture.The book addresses a number of important questions including: why do so many technological firms fail to sustain entrepreneurial spirit? * is a certain mindset required at the level of the individual entrepreneur? do successful entrepreneurial firms need a certain culture and, if so, what elements make up that culture? what role does national culture, corporate culture and professional culture play? are these issues linked to high levels of innovation, technology development, progress and economic growth and, if so, how are they related? The book's broad global perspective and multi-disciplinary analysis will ensure a wide and varied readership amongst academics, researchers and practitioners interested in technological and organizational change, entrepreneurship, innovation management and cultural studies.

This unique book focuses on the link between different types of culture (national, corporate, professional) and the success of strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions. Over the past decades we have seen a significant increase in the number of strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions. Despite this proliferation many recent studies have reported high failure rates. This failure is often attributed to cultural differences between partners, which has led to a growing body of literature on the subject. To date, most of these studies have focused on national and corporate culture, whereas this book also places particular emphasis on the importance of culture at the professional level. The authors clearly show that all three levels of culture may have a profound impact upon the ultimate success or failure of alliances, mergers and acquisitions. Researchers in the field of international business, strategic management, and strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions will find this book to be of invaluable interest. Managers in multinational corporations and international business students should also not be without this important resource.

'The book you are about to read offers some very powerful insights into the Presenting original and innovative research studies with a focus on new business development in science and technology, this book highlights the role and challenge of European cooperation to create new techno-ventures and encourage them to survive and even flourish. The book is an exceptional result of a distinctive network of European and American scholars, practitioners, and members of public institutions interested in the critical issues of emergence and survival of technology and knowledge based firms. The contributors study examples from both the old EU-member states such as France, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands, as well as newer countries such as Slovenia and Estonia. The book is unique in bringing culture and psychology together in the particular context of the nascent technopreneur. Using a plethora of different approaches, Entrepreneurship, Cooperation and the Firm will be of great interest to innovation and entrepreneurship policy makers at governmental levels, and also to those involved in research programs on entrepreneurship, innovation and organizational change. In addition, this book will be a stimulating read for academics, researchers and practitioners both inside and outside of the classroom.