Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates strategies for effective employee management during mergers and acquisitions (M&A), aiming to identify approaches that mitigate negative impacts on staff and ensure successful organizational integration.
Research Design and Methodology: Employing a qualitative research design, the study systematically reviews and synthesizes literature on employee management in M&A contexts. Key themes are extracted through thematic analysis of scholarly articles, books, and reports, providing a comprehensive view of human resource challenges during M&A.
Findings and Discussion: Results emphasize the importance of effective communication, strong leadership, and active employee involvement. Transparent communication is crucial for reducing uncertainty and building trust, while transformational leadership guides employees through transitions, bolstering resilience and commitment. Employee participation in the integration process fosters ownership and aids in merging organizational cultures, enhancing morale and productivity essential for M&A success.
Implications: The findings advocate for a holistic approach to employee management in M&A, integrating communication, leadership, and participation. Practically, it suggests creating an inclusive environment to facilitate transitions and achieve synergies. Theoretically, it enriches the dialogue on organizational change and human resource management, offering insights for future research on M&A dynamics.
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Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
- Appelbaum, S. H., Gandell, J., Yortis, H., Proper, S., & Jobin, J. (2000). An organizational model of response to signs of decline in M&As: Cases of acquisition failure. Management Decision, 38(7), 434-452. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740010341043
- Appelbaum, S. H., Gandell, J., Yortis, H., Proper, S., & Jobin, J. (2000). An organizational analysis of the merger of two urban health centres: Part 2, integrating the workforces. Social Science & Medicine, 50(12), 1803-1813. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00425-0
- Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2020). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 7(1), 231-258. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-071719-050244
- Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2020). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 11(3), 315-338. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(00)00064-3
- Buono, A. F., & Bowditch, J. L. (2003). The human side of mergers and acquisitions: Managing collisions between people, cultures, and organizations. Jossey-Bass.
- Cartwright, S., & Cooper, C. L. (1993). The role of culture compatibility in successful organizational marriage. Academy of Management Executive, 7(2), 57-70. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.1993.9409142063
- Creswell, J. W., & Miller, D. L. (2000). Determining validity in qualitative inquiry. Theory into Practice, 39(3), 124-130. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip3903_2
- Dai, J., Kehoe, R. R., & Huyen, N. T. M. (2022). Building resilience in the workplace: A narrative review of resilience-building interventions. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 43(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2542
- Daniel, J. (2001). Human resources in M&A strategy and execution: A conceptual framework. Human Resource Management, 40(2), 123-139. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.2010
- Dinh, J. E., Lord, R. G., Gardner, W. L., Meuser, J. D., Liden, R. C., & Hu, J. (2020). Leadership theory and research in the new millennium: Current theoretical trends and changing perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), 36-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.11.005
- Eccles, R. G., Luchs, M. G., Priem, R. L., & Sharma, S. (2020). The management of social interactions as a critical resource in M&A. Strategic Management Journal, 41(3), 371-395. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3112
- Eccles, R. G., Newquist, S. C., & Schatz, R. (2020). Reputation and its risks. Harvard Business Review, 84(2), 104-114.
- Froger, A., & Pottiez, J. (2022). Employees' reactions to mergers and acquisitions: A psychological contract breach perspective. Human Resource Management Journal, 32(1), 56-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12417
- Gibson, C. B., & Gibbs, J. L. (2021). Unpacking the concept of virtuality: The effects of geographic dispersion, electronic dependence, dynamic structure, and national diversity on team innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 66(3), 396-432. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001839220970647
- Gibson, C. B., & Gibbs, J. L. (2021). Unpacking the concept of virtuality: The effects of geographic dispersion, electronic dependence, dynamic structure, and national diversity on team innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 45(3), 274-303. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055
- Huang, J., & Kleiner, B. H. (2019). The role of organizational culture in mergers and acquisitions. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 119(9), 2017-2036. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-01-2019-0048
- Huang, Y., & Kleiner, B. H. (2019). Workforce diversity and organizational performance. International Journal of Manpower, 24(4), 286-298. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437720310491039
- Johnson, G., & Scholes, K. (2017). Exploring corporate strategy: Text and cases. Pearson UK.
- Kristiana, A. (2021). Psychological ownership and employee commitment during mergers and acquisitions: A qualitative study. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 25(3), 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2020.1862298
- Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.
- Marks, M. L., & Mirvis, P. H. (2011). Making mergers and acquisitions work: Strategic and psychological preparation. Jossey-Bass.
- Marks, M. L., & Mirvis, P. H. (2011). Rebuilding after the merger: Dealing with “survivor sickness”. The Academy of Management Executive, 5(3), 115-126. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.1991.4274679
- Miles, J. A., O'Neal, C. R., & Simpson, R. B. (2019). Towards a strategic theory of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 491-512. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2202131
- Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2021). Organizational behavior (19th ed.). Pearson.
- Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2021). Organizational behavior. Pearson.
- Schweiger, D. M. (1992). Managing human resource problems during corporate transition. Human Resource Planning, 15(4), 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.2010
- Schweiger, D. M., & Denisi, A. S. (1991). Communication with employees following a merger: A longitudinal field experiment. Academy of Management Journal, 34(1), 110-135. https://doi.org/10.2307/256331
- Schweiger, D. M., & Denisi, A. S. (1991). Communication with employees following a merger: A longitudinal field experiment. The Academy of Management Journal, 34(1), 110-135. https://doi.org/10.2307/256405
- Sherman, A. J., & Hart, M. A. (2006). The role of the board of directors in responding to an unsolicited takeover bid. Journal of Management, 12(4), 421-439.
- Sherman, A., & Hart, A. (2006). The role of communication in acquisitions. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 106(7), 967-993. https://doi.org/10.1108/02635570610692850
- Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
- Veninga, R. L. (1990). Mergers and acquisitions: Managing culture and human resources. Training & Development Journal, 44(3), 62-67.
- Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2021). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179-201. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4378011
- Zhang, X., & Wang, Q. (2020). Social media utilization in mergers and acquisitions. Journal of Information Technology Management, 21(4), 1-13.
References
Appelbaum, S. H., Gandell, J., Yortis, H., Proper, S., & Jobin, J. (2000). An organizational model of response to signs of decline in M&As: Cases of acquisition failure. Management Decision, 38(7), 434-452. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740010341043
Appelbaum, S. H., Gandell, J., Yortis, H., Proper, S., & Jobin, J. (2000). An organizational analysis of the merger of two urban health centres: Part 2, integrating the workforces. Social Science & Medicine, 50(12), 1803-1813. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00425-0
Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2020). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 7(1), 231-258. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-071719-050244
Avolio, B. J., & Gardner, W. L. (2020). Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of positive forms of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 11(3), 315-338. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(00)00064-3
Buono, A. F., & Bowditch, J. L. (2003). The human side of mergers and acquisitions: Managing collisions between people, cultures, and organizations. Jossey-Bass.
Cartwright, S., & Cooper, C. L. (1993). The role of culture compatibility in successful organizational marriage. Academy of Management Executive, 7(2), 57-70. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.1993.9409142063
Creswell, J. W., & Miller, D. L. (2000). Determining validity in qualitative inquiry. Theory into Practice, 39(3), 124-130. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip3903_2
Dai, J., Kehoe, R. R., & Huyen, N. T. M. (2022). Building resilience in the workplace: A narrative review of resilience-building interventions. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 43(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2542
Daniel, J. (2001). Human resources in M&A strategy and execution: A conceptual framework. Human Resource Management, 40(2), 123-139. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.2010
Dinh, J. E., Lord, R. G., Gardner, W. L., Meuser, J. D., Liden, R. C., & Hu, J. (2020). Leadership theory and research in the new millennium: Current theoretical trends and changing perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), 36-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.11.005
Eccles, R. G., Luchs, M. G., Priem, R. L., & Sharma, S. (2020). The management of social interactions as a critical resource in M&A. Strategic Management Journal, 41(3), 371-395. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3112
Eccles, R. G., Newquist, S. C., & Schatz, R. (2020). Reputation and its risks. Harvard Business Review, 84(2), 104-114.
Froger, A., & Pottiez, J. (2022). Employees' reactions to mergers and acquisitions: A psychological contract breach perspective. Human Resource Management Journal, 32(1), 56-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12417
Gibson, C. B., & Gibbs, J. L. (2021). Unpacking the concept of virtuality: The effects of geographic dispersion, electronic dependence, dynamic structure, and national diversity on team innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 66(3), 396-432. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001839220970647
Gibson, C. B., & Gibbs, J. L. (2021). Unpacking the concept of virtuality: The effects of geographic dispersion, electronic dependence, dynamic structure, and national diversity on team innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 45(3), 274-303. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055
Huang, J., & Kleiner, B. H. (2019). The role of organizational culture in mergers and acquisitions. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 119(9), 2017-2036. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-01-2019-0048
Huang, Y., & Kleiner, B. H. (2019). Workforce diversity and organizational performance. International Journal of Manpower, 24(4), 286-298. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437720310491039
Johnson, G., & Scholes, K. (2017). Exploring corporate strategy: Text and cases. Pearson UK.
Kristiana, A. (2021). Psychological ownership and employee commitment during mergers and acquisitions: A qualitative study. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 25(3), 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2020.1862298
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.
Marks, M. L., & Mirvis, P. H. (2011). Making mergers and acquisitions work: Strategic and psychological preparation. Jossey-Bass.
Marks, M. L., & Mirvis, P. H. (2011). Rebuilding after the merger: Dealing with “survivor sickness”. The Academy of Management Executive, 5(3), 115-126. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.1991.4274679
Miles, J. A., O'Neal, C. R., & Simpson, R. B. (2019). Towards a strategic theory of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 491-512. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2202131
Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2021). Organizational behavior (19th ed.). Pearson.
Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2021). Organizational behavior. Pearson.
Schweiger, D. M. (1992). Managing human resource problems during corporate transition. Human Resource Planning, 15(4), 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.2010
Schweiger, D. M., & Denisi, A. S. (1991). Communication with employees following a merger: A longitudinal field experiment. Academy of Management Journal, 34(1), 110-135. https://doi.org/10.2307/256331
Schweiger, D. M., & Denisi, A. S. (1991). Communication with employees following a merger: A longitudinal field experiment. The Academy of Management Journal, 34(1), 110-135. https://doi.org/10.2307/256405
Sherman, A. J., & Hart, M. A. (2006). The role of the board of directors in responding to an unsolicited takeover bid. Journal of Management, 12(4), 421-439.
Sherman, A., & Hart, A. (2006). The role of communication in acquisitions. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 106(7), 967-993. https://doi.org/10.1108/02635570610692850
Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
Veninga, R. L. (1990). Mergers and acquisitions: Managing culture and human resources. Training & Development Journal, 44(3), 62-67.
Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2021). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179-201. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4378011
Zhang, X., & Wang, Q. (2020). Social media utilization in mergers and acquisitions. Journal of Information Technology Management, 21(4), 1-13.
