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  • 1.  Need Examples of Subversive Behavior in M&A

    Posted 10-09-2009 08:18
    I just finished teaching a simulation exercise to BBA students on the politics of post-acquisition integration. I was surprised that students had a great deal of trouble believing that managers would be subversive even in that kind of setting (e.g., back-stabbing other individuals, departments or even the company). If there are specific examples of such subversive behavior that you know about, I'd appreciate it if you would email them to me.

    FYI, you can find some details on the simulation exercise at Organizations and Markets (http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2009/10/08/need-examples-of-subversive-behavior-in-ma/)

    Thanks.

    --Russ




  • 2.  Need Examples of Subversive Behavior in M&A

    Posted 10-09-2009 09:05
    Russ,

    In my 1992 SMJ paper with Mary Correa, we looked at the merger of a local
    hospital with a major tertiary care center. In that merger, there were
    lots of subversive activities, both real and imagined. The acquirer
    wanted to capture patient referrals and bring them to their own
    facilities. Doctors in the target knew this (some had been trained at the
    acquirer) and worked to avoid it. The target had been controlled by a
    surgical group that had long held power and was reluctant to relinquish
    it, either to the acquirer or to other physicians and managers in the
    target. Actions to prevent this sometimes became bizarre, such as the
    vandalizing of a physician's office by other physicians - caught on
    camera.

    I don't know if we mention that many of these dynamics in the paper, but I
    think Correa covered some in her dissertation write-up.

    Let me know if you need more.

    Best,

    Mark Shanley

    On Fri, October 9, 2009 7:18 am, Russ Coff wrote:
    > I just finished teaching a simulation exercise to BBA students on the
    > politics of post-acquisition integration. I was surprised that students
    > had a great deal of trouble believing that managers would be subversive
    > even in that kind of setting (e.g., back-stabbing other individuals,
    > departments or even the company). If there are specific examples of such
    > subversive behavior that you know about, I’d appreciate it if you would
    > email them to me.
    >
    > FYI, you can find some details on the simulation exercise at Organizations
    > and Markets
    > (http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2009/10/08/need-examples-of-subversive-behavior-in-ma/)
    >
    > Thanks.
    >
    > --Russ
    > Russell Coff (www.bus.emory.edu/RCoff/)
    >
    >
    >


  • 3.  Need Examples of Subversive Behavior in M&A

    Posted 10-09-2009 10:54
    Hey Russ.

    The simulation looks very interesting. It's great to see that type of technology brought into the classroom.

    Melissa Graebner had a really good article in June 2009's AMJ, "Caveat Venditor: Trust Asymmetries in Acquisitions of Entrepreneurial Firms".

    Best,

    CC


    G. Christopher Crawford
    University of Louisville
    Entrepreneurship Ph.D. Student
    O: (502) 852-5053
    M: (513) 295-8717
    E: Christopher.Crawford@Louisville.edu


  • 4.  Need Examples of Subversive Behavior in M&A

    Posted 10-09-2009 13:31
    Building on Mark's email below, for those of your students that watch Grey's Anatomy on ABC, a current TV show example is the merger between Seattle Grace and Mercy West :-)

    Rajshree

    Rajshree Agarwal
    John Georges Professor of Technology Management and Strategy
    Director, Innovation and Technology Management Initiatives
    Scholar in Residence, Academy of Entrepreneurial Leadership
    College of Business
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Phone:  217-265-5513
    Fax:  217-244-7969
    URL:  www.business.uiuc.edu/agarwalr


    -----Original Message-----
    From: Business Policy and Strategy List [mailto:BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Shanley, Mark
    Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 8:05 AM
    To: BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: Need Examples of Subversive Behavior in M&A

    Russ,

    In my 1992 SMJ paper with Mary Correa, we looked at the merger of a local
    hospital with a major tertiary care center. In that merger, there were
    lots of subversive activities, both real and imagined. The acquirer
    wanted to capture patient referrals and bring them to their own
    facilities. Doctors in the target knew this (some had been trained at the
    acquirer) and worked to avoid it. The target had been controlled by a
    surgical group that had long held power and was reluctant to relinquish
    it, either to the acquirer or to other physicians and managers in the
    target. Actions to prevent this sometimes became bizarre, such as the
    vandalizing of a physician's office by other physicians - caught on
    camera.

    I don't know if we mention that many of these dynamics in the paper, but I
    think Correa covered some in her dissertation write-up.

    Let me know if you need more.

    Best,

    Mark Shanley

    On Fri, October 9, 2009 7:18 am, Russ Coff wrote:
    > I just finished teaching a simulation exercise to BBA students on the
    > politics of post-acquisition integration. I was surprised that students
    > had a great deal of trouble believing that managers would be subversive
    > even in that kind of setting (e.g., back-stabbing other individuals,
    > departments or even the company). If there are specific examples of such
    > subversive behavior that you know about, I'd appreciate it if you would
    > email them to me.
    >
    > FYI, you can find some details on the simulation exercise at Organizations
    > and Markets
    > (http://organizationsandmarkets.com/2009/10/08/need-examples-of-subversive-behavior-in-ma/)
    >
    > Thanks.
    >
    > --Russ
    > Russell Coff (www.bus.emory.edu/RCoff/)
    >
    >
    >