Marcus Nikolay Vatne
About
PhD student at the NTNU School of International Business. My doctoral project is grounded in a microfoundations approach to international management, with particular emphasis on how individual experiences, attitudes, and identities shape strategic choices and outcomes in international organizations.
The research examines how individuals relate to different forms of belonging, commitment, and culture – associated with nation, organization, and profession – and how these micro-level processes influence leadership and strategy at the organizational level. Particular attention is given to international contexts of change, including mergers and acquisitions (M&As), assignments (expatriates), and project management.
Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in International Business and Marketing (Siviløkonom), both from the NTNU School of International Business in Ålesund.
Supervisors: Professor Hans Solli-Sæther and Associate Professor Bella B. Nujen.
Research
Publications
2023
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Nujen, Bella B.;
Solli-Sæther, Hans;
Vatne, Marcus Nikolay.
(2023)
Socially Responsible Human Resource Management in Mergers and Acquisitions: A Case Study on Employees’ Multilevel Identities in Post-M&A Integration.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Master thesis
Student thesis or dissertation
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Nujen, Bella B.;
Solli-Sæther, Hans;
Vatne, Marcus Nikolay.
(2023)
Socially Responsible Human Resource Management in Mergers and Acquisitions: A Case Study on Employees’ Multilevel Identities in Post-M&A Integration.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Master thesis
Teaching
Lecturing:
- International Organisation and Management (AL519311): Spring 2026
- International Business Strategy (AI521716): Autumn 2024 and 2025
- Marketing - Basic Course (AM101108): Autumn 2023
Supervision:
- Bachelor thesis (AM301314): Spring 2025 (one group)
Guest lectures:
- Qualitative Research Methods (AM521917): Autumn 2023 and 2024
- Leadership in Organizations - A Cross-cultural and Global Perspective (AL520512): Autumn 2023
- International Organisation and Management (AL519311): Autumn 2024
Learning Assistant:
- Industrial psychology and human resources management (AL101816): Spring 2021
- Financial Accounting with financial statement analysis (AE101308): Spring 2020
- Managerial Economics and Accounting (AE101108): Autumn 2019 and 2020
Outreach
2026
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Conference lectureVatne, Vibeke; Vatne, Marcus Nikolay. (2026) Middle managers’ perceived leeway for sustainable leadership through health-promoting workplaces: A case study of a Norwegian public welfare organization. 42nd EGOS Colloquium
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Vatne, Vibeke. (2026) From Authority to Advocacy: How Paternalistic Leaders Navigate Multi-Level Cultural Tensions in Public Organizations. Fjordkonferansen 2026
2025
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Conference lectureHaug, Karl Erik; Aarseth, Johnny; Nilsen, Fredrik Ødegård; Solli-Sæther, Hans; Vatne, Marcus Nikolay. (2025) Panelsamtale. Økonomikonferansen: I krysspresset - internasjonal business i urolige tider
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Conference lectureHuang, Weihua; Borchers, Finja; Ulvestad, Silje; Solli-Sæther, Hans; Vatne, Marcus Nikolay. (2025) The Physical Relocation of Tacit Knowledge - A Case Study of a Moving Megaproject in the Shipbuilding Industry. European International Business Academy
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay. (2025) Microfoundations of International Management: Linking Employees' Occupational Identities and Multinational Firms' Strategies. John H. Dunning Doctoral Tutorial (JHD-DT) / EIBA 2025
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Solli-Sæther, Hans; Nujen, Bella B. (2025) Bridging International Business Strategy and Project Dynamics: A Microfoundational View of International Project Management. EIBA 2025
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Mustafa, Ghulam. (2025) Expatriate Retention Through Occupation-relevant HRM Practices: A Cultural Contingency Model. EIBA 2025
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Lecture
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Conference posterVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Solli-Sæther, Hans Arthur; Nujen, Bella Belerivana Berivan. (2025) Linking Expatriates’ Retention Cognitions and Affective Organizational and Occupational Commitment. AOM Annual Meeting 2025
2024
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Conference posterVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Solli-Sæther, Hans Arthur; Nujen, Bella Belerivana Berivan; van Oorschot, Kim E.. (2024) Synergy Evaluation in M&As - Longitudinal Data from a Single Case Study. EIBA 2024
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Solli-Sæther, Hans Arthur; Nujen, Bella Belerivana Berivan; van Oorschot, Kim E.. (2024) Synergy evaluation in M&As – Longitudinal data from a single case study. Global Strategy Journal (GSJ) Idea & Paper Development Workshop
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay. (2024) Institutional Microfoundations of International Management: The Link Between Occupational Cultures and Multinational Firms’ Strategies. 13th EIBA / EIASM Danny Van Den Bulcke Doctoral Symposium / EIBA 2024
2023
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Conference lectureVatne, Marcus Nikolay; Nujen, Belerivana Bella Berivan; Solli-Sæther, Hans Arthur. (2023) Socially Responsible Human Resource Management in Post-M&A Integration: A Case Study on Employees’ Occupational Cultures. EIBA 2023