Post-Merger Integration and the Management of Information and Communication Systems

Beschreibung

In the context of post-merger integration there is a tendency to perceive information and communication systems (ICS) as "technical components" or even as "departments" that need to be integrated. The discussion revolves mainly around technical issues and the restructuring of the IT-function(s).

Alexis Papathanassis postulates that ICS ought to be treated as a complex and demanding management process and that it should be acknowledged as a key enabler of merger value realization. As such, it requires a holistic consideration and a systemic understanding. He presents the "Post-merger information and communication systems framework" (POMICS), a conceptual tool supporting the analysis effort required to achieve a sufficient depth of understanding. Its application on a real-life post-merger integration situation in a tourism company serves as a validation and as an illustration of the framework's potential value. It also gives valuable insights into some of the key questions facing the entire tourism sector today.


1.0 Introduction In the popular film "Wall Street", the ruthless investment banker played by Michael Douglas, devotes an ode to "Greed", as part of his speech to the shareholders' meeting of a paper company he aims at acquiring: "The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for the like of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works! Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of evolutionary spirit. .. " Even though the aforementioned acquisition deal did eventually fail, in today's economy M&A activity is surging to levels previously unknown. With the exception 1 of the first quarters of 2002 , the last decade has been characterised by unprecedented 2 number of transactions • It appears that "greed" is gaining ground amongst top executives and shareholders. Inasmuch as greed is an integral part of human nature, so is the propensity to grow and develop a part of organisational nature. Greiner (1998:p.66) claims that organisational evolution is not merely a self-implied process, but a "contest for survival". In other words, if organisations are to reach and potentially surpass their average life 3 expectancy range of 20 to 50 years, they need to evolve . Mergers & acquisitions seem to play a primary role in the evolution, and thus survival, of organisations.
In the context of post-merger integration there is a tendency to perceive information and communication systems (ICS) as "technical components" or even as "departments" that need to be integrated. The discussion revolves mainly around technical issues and the restructuring of the IT-function(s).

Alexis Papathanassis postulates that ICS ought to be treated as a complex and demanding management process and that it should be acknowledged as a key enabler of merger value realization. As such, it requires a holistic consideration and a systemic understanding. He presents the "Post-merger information and communication systems framework" (POMICS), a conceptual tool supporting the analysis effort required to achieve a sufficient depth of understanding. Its application on a real-life post-merger integration situation in a tourism company serves as a validation and as an illustration of the framework's potential value. It also gives valuable insights into some of the key questions facing the entire tourism sector today.

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Alexis Papathanassis

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