Did you know failing to move quickly during integration is one of the top reasons why deals are unsuccessful? Last week I had the opportunity to guest lecture on this topic at Professor Jeanne Wilson’s Executive MBA class at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary.
Many companies struggle with integration because they begin planning this phase only after the deal closes. This is a huge mistake. While not all integration will necessarily take place on day one, some items like payroll for example, are a must. The best way to ensure a smooth transition post-closing is to begin planning early to anticipate potential challenges and develop solutions before roadblocks have the opportunity to derail the synergies of your deal. It’s also important to create realistic measures for success to make sure the newly merged company stays on track.
During my time with the EMBA class, I discussed best practices leaders can bring back to their companies and start implementing in their own strategic acquisition programs. As always, I’m excited to help executives continue learning about mergers and acquisitions and I enjoyed visiting my alma mater. Thank you, Professor Wilson for the invitation!
