On strategic communication during mergers & acquisitions: a pragmatic perspective to improve outcomes

Purpose Mergers are an increasingly popular method to grow a business despite the fact that many fail to meet their pre-deal expectations. This paper outlines the benefits, and argues in favor, of managerial commitment to a well-defined, strategic communications plan from inception through completion of an organizational merger. The authors propose training leaders in areas such as cultural communication, crisis communication, and shared governance prior to developing an M culture conflicts related to communication, and uncertainty of a changing environment. Communication is the key to a successful M culture conflicts and uncertainty reduction, both as related to organizational communication.