Merger Integration Services

CMG‘s merger integration services provide active guidance in the process of organizational transformation. We act as partners with the senior management group in designing, implementing and building the new organizational direction. We help minimize the pressures of managing a merger/acquisition during the planning, transition, and rebuilding phases. Our aim is to establish a collaborative relationship with the client and assist in a planned and sustained change process. We offer the following:

Planning and Document Review -- We work with designated senior staff at each site to complete the planning for the integration. From many acquisitions and mergers, we have benchmarked the best integration practices that increase the likelihood that an organization's merger/acquisition integration will meet its requirements. We apply these best practices to the overall plan and review relevant documents from both organizations.
Merger Integration Survey -- Using this survey we identify key organizational issues and significant hidden issues that did not surface during due diligence or the merger/acquisition contract negotiations.
Capability Review -- Along with the survey, CMG uses Capability Reviews to evaluate and help select the senior and/or middle level staff. Clients that have overlapping support services or redundant employees often request this service. Each candidate is compared to his/her peers, which allows for a "stacked rating profile" on individual variables or work group averages.
Structured Interviews/Focus Groups -- We conduct structured interviews or focus groups with key personnel and obtain their opinions and perspectives about critical merger integration issues and opportunities in their own areas of responsibility. This interview process helps assess an individual‘s openness to change, building the trust and rapport between the consultant and client required for the integration effort.
Site Visits and Plant Tours -- In an effort to collect widespread data about the merging organizations, CMG consultants visit company sites. This is a valuable component in the process of identifying and analyzing the cultures of two organizations as seen by a neutral third party. Using a variety of techniques, we assess the overall employees‘ mindsets, organizational dynamics, obstacles to change and opportunities for transformation.
Key Customers ö During the planning and transition phases of a merger, the senior management group often does not have the time to devote to interfacing with key customers. As an option, CMG interviews key customers to gain a deeper understanding of the customer, their needs, and concerns about the merger. We then report our findings to the senior management group.
Data Analysis/Issue Papers -- We provided the senior management group feedback on the results of the merger integration survey; structured interviews/focus groups, separate reports on individual candidates; and short issue papers to aid in action planning. The type and number of reports varies according to client needs and requests.
Feedback Sessions -- CMG holds meetings with the senior management groups to review the findings of our merger integration evaluation. We collaboratively explore issues and alternative solutions with the team.

This process accomplishes several goals:

The new company‘s senior management group comes to agreement on the critical merger integration issues while prioritizing them for action planning.
Alternative solutions are debated in an informal, open environment where a foundation of trust and collaboration is encouraged.
The senior management group agrees upon specific action plans with timetables.

A natural outcome of this process is a strong sense of teamwork among the new company's leadership. This is a critical step in producing a "one company, one team" mindset among all involved.

Integration web site -- One of the most powerful tools that we have proposed for past clients is an Integration Web Site. We work with the client‘s I.T. department to design an internal web site that is completely confidential. A web master is assigned to the task of updating the site every 24 hours. A senior member of management reviews all material to be placed on the site to ensure consistency; alignment with corporate values /strategy; and legal implications. Employees can then log onto the site and read the latest information about the merger, rather than accepting gossip spread by other staff members. Then they can confidentially submit questions that they want to see answered on the web site. In this manner, the client can communicate effectively and honestly with one voice to all members on its staff.
Post-merger Survey -- Integration progress can be tracked using a post-merger survey as a tool to measure the progress of the merger and to gain systematic feedback from employees. As an outcome of our assessment during the integration process, CMG offers training modules developed especially for the client organization.

With experience in numerous mergers and acquisitions, CMG has helped newly integrated executive leadership teams focus on the issues that matter most in merger integration. It is extremely difficult to manage a merger while running a demanding business. The simple fact is that something has to give. We offer various interventions and support staff to prepare newly integrated executive leadership teams for their merger management responsibilities.