Is the Merger Necessary? The Interactive Effect of Perceived Necessity and Sense of Continuity on Post-Merger Identification
August 2011
Research Paper
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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.
- continuity
- merger
- necessity
- organization
- identification
- sense
- employee
- uncertainty
- identity
- effect
- research
- study
- change
- psychology
- experience
- management
- ullrich
- regression
- status
- knippenberg
