The impact of mergers and acquisitions on people and organisations.

Abstract

This research report studies the impact of mergers and acquisitions on people and organisations. The data for the research were collected by means of open-ended interview questions, administered to human resources managers of nine organisations that have gone through either a merger, an acquisition or both. The results of the study are presented in descriptive form, which attempts to explain the causal links, themes and patterns which seem to be common in all the cases studied. This study has shown that mergers and acquisitions do have an impact on people and organisations. This study has demonstrated that mergers and acquisitions can have a negative impact on employee motivation. It can also affect employee productivity negatively. Mergers and acquisitions can lead to an increase in staff turnover. Employees can suffer stress as a result of a merger or acquisition. Finally, mergers and acquisitions can have an impact on the existing culture in organisations.