Acquisitions and Corporate Strategy: Alliances, Performance, and Divestment

Corporate restructuring through acquisitions, alliances, and divestments is a visible form of corporate strategy, but research on average acquisition performance is limited. This book explores how acquisitions relate to other corporate strategy options, predict acquisition performance, and identify persistent acquisition research issues. It aims to illustrate promising areas for future research in strategic management, international business, and organizational studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Corporate restructuring, encompassing acquisitions, alliances, and divestments, serves as a prominent manifestation of corporate strategy. Notably, firms engage in substantial asset purchases, often surpassing the gross domestic product (GDP) of numerous nations. While much research has focused on acquisitions, the practical application of this knowledge is limited by examining acquisitions in isolation or with a narrow perspective. A persistent challenge arises from the average acquisition performance consistently hovering around zero, indicating the need to identify meaningful relationships that can inform practice.

To address this gap, this book delves into three fundamental questions:

1. How do acquisitions align with other corporate strategy options, such as internal development, alliances, and divestments?
2. What factors contribute to predicting the performance of acquisitions?
3. What are the enduring research issues in the field of acquisition research?

The first question seeks to overcome a research limitation by examining acquisitions in the broader context of other corporate strategies. It aims to explore the interrelationships and synergies between acquisitions and other strategic choices, shedding light on how they complement or compete with each other.

The second question addresses the novel relationships associated with the primary focus of acquisition research. It seeks to uncover the factors that drive acquisition performance, exploring both internal and external factors that influence success or failure. By understanding these drivers, practitioners can develop more effective strategies for acquiring and integrating assets.

The third question reflects on the underlying complexity of the acquisition phenomenon. It acknowledges the challenges in identifying the precise factors that contribute to acquisition performance, recognizing the need for a multi-faceted approach that considers various factors such as cultural differences, market conditions, and management practices.

Overall, the purpose of presenting these fundamental questions is to highlight promising areas for future research in the field of acquisition. This book serves as a valuable resource for researchers, academics, and advanced students interested in strategic management, international business, and organizational studies. It provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of knowledge on acquisitions and offers insights into the future direction.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032036373