For Better or for Worse; can M&As Benefit from Marriage Counselling?

Abstract

The metaphor of marriage is frequently invoked in the context of mergers. The evidence is that the success rate for marriages is low and even worse for mergers. In this chapter we explore why mergers often fail to meet the expectations of either party and bring to bear insights from the relational field of marriage counselling to the challenge of achieving cultural development in the wake of a merger. Based on our experience of leading the cultural aspects of a major global merger, we propose some practical methods to help leaders create the conditions for a ‘lasting and happy marriage’.

Citation

McLean, A. and Moffat, A. (2012), "For Better or for Worse; can M&As Benefit from Marriage Counselling?", Cooper, C.L. and Finkelstein, S. (Ed.) Advances in Mergers and Acquisitions (Advances in Mergers and Acquisitions, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 145-159. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-361X(2012)0000010011