Article
Reducing Causal Ambiguity in Acquisition Integration: Intermediate Goals as Mediators of Integration Decisions and Acquisition Performance
Academy of Management Journal
Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
24 p.
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Publisher
Academy of Management
Original Item ID
doi: 10.5465/AMJ.2008.33665279
Disciplines
Abstract
Integration is a difficult process, but one that is vital to acquisition performance. One reason acquirers encounter difficulties is that the integration process exhibits high levels of intrafirm linkage ambiguity – a lack of clarity of the causal link between integration decisions and their performance outcomes. We introduce the construct of intermediate goals as a mechanism that reduces intrafirm linkage ambiguity. Our structural model results, based on a sample of 129 horizontal acquisitions, indicate that the achievement of two intermediate goals (internal reorganization and market expansion) fully mediates the relationships between four integration decisions and acquisition performance.
Citation Information
Margaret Cording, Petra Christman and David R. King. "Reducing Causal Ambiguity in Acquisition Integration: Intermediate Goals as Mediators of Integration Decisions and Acquisition Performance" Academy of Management Journal (2008) ISSN: 0001-4273 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/david_king/1/
Published version. Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 51, No. 4 (August 2008): 744-797. DOI. © 2008 Academy of Management. Used with permission.
David R. King was affiliated with the U.S. Air Force at the time of publication.