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Article
To Divest or not to Divest: A Meta-Analysis of the Antecedents of Corporate Divestitures
British Journal of Management
  • Monica Adya, Marquette University
Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
18 p.
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Publisher
Wiley
Disciplines
Abstract

Corporate divestitures have been identified as important strategic actions with a positive impact on firm performance. Yet, what is still missing in the strategic management literature is an integrative framework that quantitatively synthesizes the relative impact of various antecedents to divestitures, and theoretically reconciles the multitude of theories underlying divestiture research. To fill this gap, the author conducts a meta-analysis (based on a sample of 35 studies) and develops four broad categories of determinants: corporate governance; firm strategy; performance; and industry environment. Evidence is found that divestitures are driven mainly by prior divestment experience, structural factors (firm size and firm diversification) and weak unit performance. In addition, the relative predictive validity of several theoretical perspectives on divestment decisions is assessed.

Comments

Accepted version. British Journal of Management, Vol. 27 (January 2016): 179–196. DOI. © 2016 Wiley. Used with permission.

Citation Information
Monica Adya. "To Divest or not to Divest: A Meta-Analysis of the Antecedents of Corporate Divestitures" British Journal of Management (2016) ISSN: 1045-3172
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/monica_adya/55/