D.Comm. / The purpose of this study was to build a comprehensive, holistic people integration process model for people integration during mergers and acquisitions (M&As). M&As is a popular and frequently used strategic initiative by organisations to grow their business. It has been estimated that 80% of M&As are unsuccessful in producing any shareholder value. In many cases lack of culture integration, a people aspect, is mentioned as one of the main reasons for M&A failure. Poor people integration during M&As is thus a major cause of M&A failure and motivated this research. The research objective was firstly, to build a model from current best practice in the M&A field. In building this model (Model P) inputs were received during interviews from experts and practitioners in the M&A field. The second research objective was to build a theoretical model (Model T) based on an in-depth literature review. The third research objective was to verify Model T with experts and practitioners in the M&A field. A questionnaire was distributed to experts and practitioners in the M&A field. The findings from the verification process were integrated with the findings from a comparison between Model T and Model P and a final model (Model TP) was built. The last research objective was to apply Model TP to two case studies in order to demonstrate the practical use of Model TP. The research process was completed upon arriving at Model TP and illustrated its practical use in the M&A field. The overall conclusion in the study was that the main difference between Model T and Model P turned out to be in the model design. Model T was based on an organic model design whereas Model P had a linear design. An organic model design was also chosen for Model TP. The reasons for choosing an organic model design were that this design emphasised the complex interrelationships and dynamic tension of the building blocks within the people integration model. That means that a change in any of the building blocks would impact on the other elements of the model. The contents of the models, i.e. the actual building blocks of the practice model and the theory model, were very similar. This implies that experts and practitioners in the M&A field have the necessary knowledge of what a successful people integration process entails. A comprehensive, holistic people integration process may not have been documented academically, but practitioners do have the knowledge of effective integration of people during M&As.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:9568 |
| Date | 16 August 2012 |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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