Spread of change in business networks: an empirical study of mergers and acquisitions in the graphic industry

This paper investigates the spread of change in business networks with focus on critical events as triggers of radical change. The conceptual discussion is based on the analytical framework for change developed by Halinen, Salmi and Havila. This framework, compiling the mechanism, nature and forces of change in business networks, distinguishes between confined and connected change. It is suggested that mergers and acquisitions (M&As) may cause changes that spread in the business networks, and M&As are investigated as triggers of radical network change in particular. The paper includes an empirical analysis of M&As in the Nordic graphic industry.