Upgrading without formal integration in M&A: The role of social integration

Research summary By adopting a phenomenon‐based research approach, we examine the case of an emerging market (EM) supplier upgrading its position in the automotive global value chain (GVC) through the acquisition of a technologically advanced firm from a developed market (DM). Drawing on GVC and social integration literature, we explore the role of social integration adopted by the EM acquirer to achieve upgrading through acquisition. We develop...