Behavioral Theory of the Merger: Dynamics of the Post-Merger Integration Process

摘要

Numerous organizational mergers fail because the post-merger integration process fails: this research responds by investigating the concealed relationship of the known, premerger organizational characteristics, on the unknown, post-merger consequences. Various structural and behavioral characteristics of the merging organizations are studied to measure their association with two decisive outcomes: the integration of the distinctive cultures and the combined organization s performance. Considered are varied antecedent organizational characteristics, which are believed to have an unknown effect on the organizational communication and learning process, and therefore have impact also to some unknown degree on post-merger outcomes. This study employs computational organization theory (COT) techniques, such as agent- based modeling and computer simulation, to experimentally manipulate these organizational characteristics in a series of controlled experiments all conducted within a virtual laboratory.