The impact of mergers and acquisitions on the individual and the resulting affect upon everyday task performance

Young, Elaine (2005) The impact of mergers and acquisitions on the individual and the resulting affect upon everyday task performance. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become an increasingly common reality of organisational life (Buono and Bowditch 1989). Although much has been written about the economic, financial and strategic aspects of M&A, it is only relatively recently that research attention has turned to the role and contribution of human factors. There is limited research of what happens to the corporate culture during mergers and acquisitions and even less mention of the impact upon the people who get 'restructured'.

This dissertation seeks to discover the impact of mergers and acquisition on the individual, using culture as the change mediator. The focus of research attention is the everyday task environment. The research will identify the experiences of individuals during the merger of two major UK budget airlines in 2002. Working as a senior manager in one of the merging organisations, the research stemmed from a genuine desire of the author to understand the impact upon the individual, having experienced first hand the 'people issues' related to merger integration.



The study will include the psychological difficulties that people experience, the culture clashes that can emerge and how individuals make sense of the organisation during the integration period. The research issues are stated together with an examination of the research design, methodological rationale and the strategy. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with those who had personal experience of the merger integration process. Ethical principles adhered to the study are considered, and the results describe the participants' perceptions of relevant issues and events.

An evaluation of the study is provided, together with advice for practitioners and recommendations for future research directions.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 08 Dec 2005
Last Modified: 01 Mar 2018 22:55
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/20054

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