Information technology also enables organizations to cope with this rapidly changing environment. One particular type of organizational change that occurs frequently is a merger or acquisition. When this takes place, there is a potential for information systems to either enable this change or to serve as a roadblock. These failures constitute an enormous cost to the acquiring firms. There is a clear need for a more complete understanding of the factors which contribute to the success or failure of acquisitions.
Information systems is one such factor.
Background To develop a theory of what MIS acquisition strategies would occur, we first reviewed the management literature concerning acquisitions. Several models were identified that describe how an acquisition is integrated. We also examined existing MIS literature on corporate acquisitions. Based on this literature, we developed a model of three MIS acquisition strategies, Maintenance, Synthesis, and Replacement. We first conducted a series of case studies with firms who had made several acquisitions.