Takeovers and acculturation: Linkages from East German privatisations to workforce integration

Many takeovers and mergers are not successful, over half fail. Specific after sale integration problems arising from a lack of workforce integration can cause failure. The continued long term success of firms is postulated as requiring a type of acculturation which allows a willingness and motivation to perform. Through a series of interviews with East German managers and employees in foreign acquired units, together with employees released after takeover, the type of acculturation and perceived level of integration was examined. An interesting linkage emerged. The perceived level of integration was viewed by the interviewees as being higher in the firms where the workforce feels their past is accepted and has been integrated into the new firm's operations.