Knowledge transfer in mergers and acquisitions: how frequent acquirers learn to manage the integration process

Acquisitions 1 are an effective tool to implement deliberate corporate strategy or the unique occasion to shift towards an emergent one. They can either allow a firm, to adjust its products- markets portfolio, at a speed not achievable through internal development, either provide the ability to gain all the benefits from pooling assets and sharing capabilities, in a way not obtainable through partnerships. From an organisational perspective, acquisitions can either bring into a company those capabilities the organization could not develop internally, either leverage existing capabilities into much more significant situations.