The Human Side of Mergers and Acquisitions

In The Human Side of Mergers and Acquisitions, authors Anthony F. Buono and James Bowditch define mergers as two companies combining to become one, and acquisitions as one company purchasing and taking over another, thus absorbing it into their own organization. The large cultural, organizational, and systemic changes that occur as a result of mergers and acquisitions take their toll on the individuals who work there. They often times feel stressed, overwhelmed, sidelined, frustrated, uncertain, and depressed. Organizationally, these feelings can result in employee disloyalty, decreased productivity, power struggles, and high turnover rates. The results of these human emotions take a very real toll on the business side of mergers and acquisitions, lowering the company’s overall value and isolating important clients and customers.