Merging decisions: How acquiring firms decide on Post-Acquisition Integration

This study project investigates the decision-making processes on post-acquisition integration. The post-acquisition integration decision making processes of 5 acquisition cases have been studied. This study supports earlier research on the theory that, when an acquisition is made for synergistic gains, the acquisition motive dictates the post-acquisition integration decision. It also shows, that the post-acquisition integration itself can be part of a strategy. Further, this study shows that business similarity is an important moderating factor in the decision process on integrating a target organization. It shows that a smaller target can be integrated faster, but that its size can have other issues to be dealt with before the acquisition.