Task

In the contemporary management environment, mergers and acquisitions are hot topics; particularly as mergers and acquisitions are among the most commonly used strategies for growth. The pitfalls of mergers are well known and well-studied in the management literature.

Yet, there are some fundamental challenges that organisations keep stumbling over. One of them is integration. Preoccupation with due diligence and political factors surrounding merger negotiations too often leaves a crucial piece in the merger puzzle left till it is too late – integration of cultures and structures and people. It is well known today that poor results from mergers can so often be put down to people issues.

In this major assessment you are asked to analyse the following case and answer the questions below using a business report format. Further detail on the format of the business report are provided below.

Case study: Who goes, Who stays?

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Questions

Using the knowledge that you have gained from the subject up to, and including, Topic 9, Managing people, answer the following questions.

1. What conflicting values are at stake in the case? Identify and explain, using relevant management theory and concepts. Contextualise your answer with reference to literature on integration problems in mergers and acquisitions, with specific reference to people issues. (up to 400 words)
2. Critique the process that is being applied to work out the details of the integration, particularly with regard to structure and top management staffing using relevant management theory and concepts. Ground your answer in evidence regarding people and culture issues in merger integration studies. (up to 700 words)
3. How would you recommend the conflicting values be resolved? (up to 500 words)
4. What process would you recommend that the two senior executives and their HR people follow to work out the details of integration in regard to the top structure? (up to 500 words)
5. Evaluate the usefulness of the management and organisational theories and practices from the subject that you have applied in analysing the case (up to 400 words)

Beyond the resources provided in the topics, you will need to source and use additional literature to support your argument. At least 10 academic and professional references must be used. At least five of these sources must be from academic studies.