Merger/Collaboration Facilitiation

The management of the merger process must begin long before the "letter of intent" is signed. Indeed, failure to address key organizational issues up-front causes many mergers to fail or, at the very least, not achieve the objectives that originally stimulated the merger discussions.

ACCORD provides facilitation assistance in the creation of relationships through mergers and other collaborative arrangements once the partners have been identified. These services include:

Readiness and Culture Compatibility Assessment

Norms, beliefs and values of the organizations must be examined to determine compatibility, what needs to be done to fit the cultures together, and answer the question as to whether it is worth the effort.

Structuring and Facilitating the Entire Process

An organized approach for pursuing the merger must be established early in the process, including the formation of a joint committee, identifying other outside assistance required, developing a work plan, and identifying methods for involving key stakeholders. ACCORD assists in the above and then provides facilitation services in all major meetings and events related to the merger process and documents the results of each step.

Implementation Planning

A merger is not a discrete, short-lived project, but rather, an ongoing change process that must be led and managed from initial discussions through a period of two to three years after the papers are signed. ACCORD helps to ensure that assignments and accountability for implementation are clearly spelled out.

Communications Counsel Throughout The Merger Process

During times of significant uncertainty and change, rumors fly, morale plummets, and internal productivity suffers. Externally, local news media and community leaders need to be informed and involved. ACCORD helps the merging organizations determine when confidentiality is required, and when open communications are needed, ACCORD can provide professional assistance in this important area.