Achieving internal legitimacy and job satisfaction in UK and US multinational corporation subsidiaries in Nigeria: Do acculturation strategies matter?

Abstract

The ever-increasing organizations’ quest for multinational investments despite cross-border tensions and cultural diversity in the international business environment necessitates acculturation research. This research aims to determine the nature of acculturation strategies adopted among local workers in UK and US MNCs’ subsidiaries in Nigeria and how the acculturation strategies relate to internal legitimacy and job satisfaction among the workers. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study uses a structured questionnaire to draw data from 454 Nigerians working in UK and US multinational corporations’ subsidiaries in Nigeria. The research finds that Nigerian workers in UK and US MNCs’ subsidiaries in Nigeria predominantly adopt the integrated acculturation strategy. The study further finds that the integration strategy significantly results in internal legitimacy and job satisfaction among the local workers. Contrary to expectations, assimilation, separation, and marginalization acculturation strategies insignificantly relate to internal legitimacy and job satisfaction. We highlighted the acculturation strategy the UK and US MNC subsidiaries in Nigeria can use to achieve internal legitimacy and job satisfaction among local employees.