Mergers and acquisitions – and why they go wrong due to cultural differences

Research (KPMG) indicates that 50 percent of M&A's fail to produce the expected synergies because of cultural differences, while an overwhelming 83 percent add no value for shareholders. That means that just 17 percent (just over 1 in 6) are achieving expected results.

So what goes wrong? Well, the unfortunate truth is that, while much effort goes into ensuring a seamless financial transition when companies merge, cultural integration is too often overlooked. Problems crop up later down the line, by which time it's often too late to turn things around.

But what exactly are cultural differences between companies, you may think?

We're not just talking language barriers here, although they alone can hurl plenty of spanners into the works. All organisations develop distinct cultures, and these are shaped by national environments. Work cultures and company structures vary greatly across countries. Even within Europe, for example, we find plenty of variation in the ways businesses work and employees interact. Germans focus more on tasks, Scandinavians are more relationship-oriented. In Italy, authority comes from job title. In Denmark, it comes from proven expertise.

The more pronounced the differences between cultures, the greater the differences in how companies and employees operate can be. Common problems where M&A's are concerned can include:

• Differing expectations regarding how and what information should be communicated to employees, which can generate tension and lack of confidence among employees.
• Differences in hierarchy structure and chain of command. For example, in some countries, it's not common practice to report to more than one manager.
• The HR culture, and practices and the role played by unions.
• Differing perceptions on leadership qualities. Flexibility and employee collaboration are seen as strengths in some cultures, weaknesses in others. 

Effective Planning

The key to successful cultural integration when it comes to mergers – to being part of that elite 17 percent – is planning effectively from the start. This means analysing the cultural traits on both sides – the norms, values, structure and ways of working – understanding what the crucial differences are, and developing a clear way forward.

One of the most effective ways of doing this is through employing leaders who have a good understanding of both work cultures. Those who not only speak the necessary lingo to overcome communication barriers, but also have experience of what works on both sides and will be able to help avoid the common pitfalls.

About

Stirling Austin has over 25 years of experience in successfully building internationally focused businesses in the UK, France, and across Europe. 

He now runs Pixel Executive, helpings businesses to develop their online presence through custom web design and digital marketing services and generate international revenue with multilingual websites.

https://pixelexecutive.com

#multilingualwebsites

#digitalmarketing

#multilingualseo

#webdesign