Hidden Barriers to Acquisition Research

Traditional prescriptions for making acquisitions ~work include aspects of both strategic and organizational fit. But, because some acquisitions continue to yield disappointing results, a different perspective may be useful. This paper provides such a perspective, suggesting that an important, yet overlooked source of success and failure in corporate acquisitions lies in a series of impediments inherent in the acquisition process itself. We explore the sources of these impediments and provide recommendations for managers to deal with them.