Abstract:
With the vast majority of mergers and acquisitions resulting in failure, and the number of such transactions on the increase, it is imperative that leaders involved in future acquisitions are equipped with the requisite skills to overcome the hurdles that an acquisition may present to the entities and individuals involved. The literature indicates that whilst the commercial, legal and operational elements of an acquisition are usually well planned and accounted for, there is often an oversight around the human element which ultimately contributes to the failure. The aim of this research is to identify which people performance management issues are prevalent in the different phases of an acquisition, the influence these issues have on employee performance and, ultimately, how they impact the success or failure of an acquisition. The research investigated the perceptions and experiences of senior managers and executives in a global information and communications technology (ICT) company, each of whom had been part of an acquisition, and had focused on the human element of an acquisition, which is often overlooked. In-depth interviews were conducted with a group of 16 interviewees, comprising of nine senior managers and seven executives. The respondents fell into two groups, with one group having worked for a global entity that had undertaken an acquisition and the other half having worked for a local organisation that had undertaken an acquisition in South Africa. A theoretical model, a ?Framework for Maximising Acquisition Success', emerged from the findings of the research. This model provides insight into a range of people management aspects of an acquisition across three phases, being before, during and after. These aspects include the foundational elements, core activities and critical enabling factors which are prevalent in the different phases of an acquisition. This model will equip senior managers and executives who are considering embarking on a future acquisition with a means of identifying the key people management elements of the acquisition process. The application of this model aims to maximise the chances of delivering a successful acquisition.