"Keep the spirit": cultural differences after an acquisition process
2014 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Mergers and acquisitions have received much attention through the years due to the waves of modernity it has implicated. Three crucial aspects that can shape a merger or an acquisition are culture, leadership and human resource management. These aspects are studied and analyzed in a Swedish company that has been involved in an acquisition process with a French company.
The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the role of culture, leadership and human resource management in an acquisition process between a French/Swedish company. An abductive research approach is adopted for the research since a mixture between inductive and deductive research approach is used. The method chosen was semi-structured interviews, which was fulfilled with the management team in the chosen company as well as with a consultant.
The findings of the study are that the three aspects have an impact on the acquisition process where culture is the most central. The culture had a significant impact on the acquisition process and affected the leadership and the human resource management within the company as well. In the company studied, the human resource management was lacking and found that communication is crucial during an acquisition process.
The limitations are that only one company is studied and the aspects are limited to culture, leadership and human resource management. The original value of the study can give a clearer picture on how the three aspects affect each other and the total acquisition process. Suggestions for further research include analyzing additional processes and cultures, not only the ones chosen in this dissertation.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2014. , p. 61
Keywords [en]
Mergers and acquisitions, M&A, culture, leadership, HRM, human resource management, Sweden, France, Swedish culture, French culture
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-12518OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hkr-12518DiVA, id: diva2:736489
Educational program
Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics
Supervisors
Examiners
2014-08-192014-08-062014-08-19Bibliographically approved