Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis paper discusses the need for knowledge management in mergers and acquisitions. In mergers and acquisitions two cultures are combined, and also two systems of knowledge and insights are integrated. In order to develop and sustain competitive advantages for the knowledge‐intensive firm, strategic management should enable the development and sharing of new knowledge and other resources. However, a number of factors make knowledge management a highly fragile process. This paper discusses some preliminary findings, indicating directions for future research regarding factors that play a role in knowledge creation, and the roles for knowledge enablers in facilitating this process of knowledge creation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We analyze how the presence of trade unions affects the pattern of mergers in an international oligopoly and the welfare implications thereof. We find that wages for the merger participants are always lower when they merge internationally, rather than nationally. Using a model of endogenous merger formation, we find that the firms will merge internationally in equilibrium. There are more international mergers than socially preferred, unless products are close substitutes. A "national champion" policy of promoting domestic mergers rather than international ones is nevertheless never optimal.

This article explores merger integration processes in the international context and the way in which the merged companies cope with difficulties emanating from firm-specific and nation-specific differences. The first part of the article discusses the consolidation process in general. Four factors are identified that define the significance of this process: (1) the degree of compatibility of adminis trative practices, management styles, organizational structures or organizational cultures; (2) the kind and degree of post-merger consolidation; (3) the extent to which parties value and want to retain their organizational integrity; (4) the nature of the relationship between the two organizations. In order to create a viable new organization it is argued that leadership, the symbolic reconstruction of a new identity, superordinate goals, and introducing multigroup memberships may reinforce integration. To illustrate the discussion, three case studies of large Dutch-German mergers are examined in the second part of the article. These cases show that leadership, an appropriate organizational structure, and compatibility of merger motives may be important facilitators in the merging process.