Tips To Survive After Mergers And Acquisitions?

Project Management / By

When one business or company acquires or is merged with another, the result is a brand new organization. Managing that change is a complex and time-consuming process, with significant implications of tough time in terms of people management.

Scenario: You are working as a Project manager in a multi-national company and were performing fairly well. Due to merger and acquisition your top management gets changed. Your new boss starts bothering the entire department with new policies and procedures. Projects priorities change, project managers were changed without any justification or criteria. Suddenly it became very difficult for you and your team work with things not in your control. You are given an entirely new team and new project where your skills and talent is hardly used. How will you handle this situation?

There are 3 ways in which employees generally react to such situations

  • Start adjusting themselves in the new culture and new organizational policies.
  • List down all the issues and complaints to share with the HR.
  • Start looking for a new opportunity outside.

Are these approaches correct? Change is often difficult for employees, especially if they were not directly involved in decisions that impact their jobs. Now in this case it is your responsibility as a good project manager to not only to adapt yourself to the new atmosphere, but also to motivate your team in parallel.

How to be adapt to new culture?

A fair percentage of employee’s lay off may take place after a merger. In such circumstances it is important that you maintain your standing in the organization as you are the lucky one who was not a part of the layoff. Then try to work even harder as with these changes you have to prove yourself once again. Make it clear to your team that your presence is essential.

Few tips for a manager

  • Identify the company’s long-term goals and areas to increase production to meet demands
  • Identify the company’s  short-term goals and target customers
  • Identify the company’s  goals and objectives and its expectation from its  employees
  • Identify the company’s focus areas and areas to promote its image

Plan your calendar and proceed step by step to retain your importance and integrity. Don’t hesitate in case you feel you require a training in some new areas. If required enhance your skill by advance education. If you are not PMP certified, go for it as additional qualification is helpful both in terms of monetary and non-monetary benefits.

How to be reduce its negative impact on the productivity of the team members?

  • During mergers and acquisitions, change can be especially difficult and can lead to stress which can have a negative impact on morale if not handled effectively. Try to gain important information from your sources and top management. A good project manager must share as much information about what is happening and, how the changes will affect individual employees.
  • It is important for managers to be alert to signs of negative competition. Managers should try to find out the company’s new roadmap and its impact on the jobs of their team members and their futures with the company.
  • Negative fear of losing jobs or good opportunities can impact the company’s productivity and may even result in employees leaving the company to seek jobs elsewhere. It is important for the organization’s recruitment staff to recognize this and provide opportunities for employees to get to know each other and openly address their concerns.

It is a project manager’s responsibility to ensure a highly motivated team and healthy work environment. A good work environment is very critical for every organization, as critical resources are always an asset to the company.

About Aditi Malhotra

Aditi Malhotra is the Content Marketing Manager at Whizlabs. Having a Master in Journalism and Mass Communication, she helps businesses stop playing around with Content Marketing and start seeing tangible ROI. A writer by day and a reader by night, she is a fine blend of both reality and fantasy. Apart from her professional commitments, she is also endearing to publish a book authored by her very soon.

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