Sergey Morgulis-Yakushev

Biography

Research Interests Description

My research explores the dynamics of international business, organizational culture, and interorganizational networks, with a particular focus on multinational corporations (MNCs). I examine how firms navigate complexities in internationalization, knowledge transfer, and strategic partnerships, emphasizing the role of cultural fit, relational ties, and experiential learning. Through a combination of empirical analyses and conceptual development, my work advances understanding of how organizations leverage interlocking directorates, absorptive capacity, and diversification strategies to optimize performance in global markets. By integrating perspectives from strategic management, international business, and organizational behavior, I provide insights that are valuable for both academic inquiry and managerial practice in an increasingly interconnected world.

Areas of Expertise

• International Business & Strategy – Exploration of multinational corporations' (MNCs) internationalization strategies, performance effects of diversification, and global market expansion.
• Interorganizational Networks & Knowledge Transfer – Analysis of relational ties, interlocking directorates, and mechanisms of knowledge flow between firms, subsidiaries, and headquarters.
• Cultural Fit & Organizational Behavior – Examination of cultural distance, organizational culture alignment, and their impact on MNC effectiveness and decision-making.
• Absorptive Capacity & Learning Processes – Investigation of individual and organizational-level absorptive capacity, including how firms acquire, assimilate, and apply new knowledge.
• Empirical Research & Quantitative Methods – Application of advanced statistical techniques, such as confirmatory polynomial regression analysis, to study firm performance and strategic decision-making in cross-cultural contexts.

Selected Publications

1. Yildiz, H. E., Morgulis-Yakushev, S., Holm, U., & Eriksson, M. (2023). A Relational View on the Performance Effects of International Diversification Strategies. Journal of International Business Studies, 54, 203–217. DOI: 10.1057/s41267-022-00543-9
2. Yildiz, H. E., Morgulis-Yakushev, S., Holm, U., & Eriksson, M. (2021). Directionality Matters: Board Interlocks and Firm Internationalization. Global Strategy Journal. DOI: 10.1002/gsj.1423
3. Yildiz, H. E., Morgulis-Yakushev, S., Holm, U., & Eriksson, M. (2022). How Do the Source and Context of Experiential Knowledge Affect Firms’ Degree of Internationalization? Journal of Business Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.08.044
4. Yildiz, H. E., Murtic, A., Morgulis-Yakushev, S., & Klofsten, M. (2024). Individual-Level Absorptive Capacity: Unveiling the Interplay Between Dispositions and Work Context. Technovation. DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2024.102965
5. Morgulis-Yakushev, S., Yildiz, H. E., & Fey, C. F. (2017). When Same Is (Not) the Aim: A Treatise on Organizational Cultural Fit and Knowledge Transfer. Journal of World Business. DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2017.09.002

Ph.D. in Business Administration

Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden (2015)

Dissertation: "Exploring Fit: Essays on the Role of Organizational Cultural Fit in Knowledge Transfer"

Thesis Committee:

• Udo Zander (Main Supervisor), Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden
• Carl F. Fey, BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
• Ingmar Björkman, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
• Emre Harun Yildiz, Mälardalen University, Sweden

This thesis redefines cultural fit as a dynamic and outcome-dependent concept, moving beyond traditional measures of similarity or difference. It argues that fit exists on a continuum and should be assessed through specific characteristics rather than aggregated cultural differences. The study examines cultural fit between MNC headquarters and subsidiaries, introducing a confirmatory polynomial regression method for empirical testing. Applying this approach to knowledge transfer, the findings highlight the broader relevance of fit in cross-cultural organizational dynamics. The results offer insights for both academic research and managerial practice.