The changes experienced during a merger often reduce post-merger organizational identification among the workforce, thereby undermining the strategic goals of the merger. While previous research has shown that employees’ post-merger identification suffers less when they experience a sense of continuity, the current paper explores methods of preserving post-merger identification even when employees experience a sense of discontinuity. It is hypothesized that for these employees, the perceived necessity of the merger strongly influences post-merger identification, because a sense of necessity can reduce the uncertainty that typically inhibits post-merger identification. A field study is presented (N = 144) to support this hypothesis. Finally, implications for the organizational pre-merger communication process are discussed.

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Erasmus Research Institute of Management
hdl.handle.net/1765/25725
ERIM Report Series Research in Management
ERIM report series research in management Erasmus Research Institute of Management
Erasmus Research Institute of Management

Giessner, S. (2011). Is the Merger Necessary? The Interactive Effect of Perceived Necessity and Sense of Continuity on Post-Merger Identification (No. ERS-2011-017-ORG). ERIM report series research in management Erasmus Research Institute of Management. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/25725