Customer Reviews

Empowering Human Resources in the Merger and Acquisition Process

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mostly every book on M&A is about accounting or theory. This was the only book that focused on how to address the employees in my company. Step by step guidance, easy to follow directions, case studies, and what the author calls critcal success factors which are ways to approach certain roadblocks and overcome them. This book quickly got me into the drivers seat. I keep refering to it when another situation arises. This book is not for beancounters. It's for real life. And I've learned alot. Real helpful.

Talk about career path...this book made it possible for me to take HR into the heart of the acquisition process. No longer the "boys club" of the past, the acquisition team must include the wisdom of the people side of the deal. The authors hit that head on...and prove it with the results of their survey. I applaud them for having the guts to do what NO OTHER BOOK has yet to provide - the action steps HR needs to take to think more strategically, become part of the process, and execute the vision. Most other M&A guidance is written from the outsider viewpoint of the consultant, Clemente and Greenspan reveal things only insiders could know. They speak frankly about "critical post-merger issues" and delve deeply but very clearly into the requisite skills HR needs to pull off this type of career advancement. A must for any HR professional who wants to play a lead role in his/her company's M&A program, and get smarter in the process.

Having just attended the Indiana SHRM Conference and attending one of the author's workshops, I was eager to get my hands on this book. It's everything I was looking for and is an ideal primer for human resources professionals with little M&A experience. This book reinforces the message that HR needs to be involved in M&A early and often, and then shows how. We have a difficult road ahead of us to stake our seat at the strategy table. These authors lay out a road map to get us there. There is a lengthy survey and surprising results ...I won't spoil the answers... and what I appreciated was the guidance and recommendations after each finding. Some may find the results too detailed. I think that is one of the strengths of the book. Other books on this topic either talk around the subject or are purley inspirational. But this book is to the point and instructive. Someone needs to be out there fighting for HR's rightful place in an acquisition -- this book clearly does.

I am the CEO of a large, midwestern, products company that plans to make several acquisitions this year. These consultants obviously understand the real keys to successful M&A. Their first book taught my senior managers how to focus on revenue growth. This one - a combination, workbook, field guide, best practices manual - has transformed people in my company's HR department into proactive, strategic-minded members of my acquisition team. The survey section opened our eyes to why acquisitions really fail. The rest of the workbook is helping us make sure our current deal doesn't. There are chapters covering HR activities that I've never seen addressed before, and an entire section devoted to skills development. I've been looking for something that can bring my HR people quickly up to speed on M&A. This is it. They are the ones using the workbook, but I am the one who has actually been empowered. HR has a lot to contribute to M&A. The authors are helping to make that possible in my company.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book, but it surpassed my expectations. An excellent resource covering a lot of different topics about HR's role in corporate acquisitions. I have a much better understanding of the contributions I can make to the success of my company in our current acquisition. The guidance is easy to apply and within 10 pages I was alerted to things I hadn't thought about. A good value and a great resource considering I'll keep it on my desk for years to come. It's one of those books that I can keep going back to time and again.

This is a very unique book that's filled with a lot of useful information. It's a combination how-to guide and research report. The research section shows the broadening role (thankfully!) of HR professionals in M&A planning and implementation. But it's not just statistics. The authors offer insightful observations on the research findings - and provide guidance in each key area of the national study. The most valuable part of the book is the section on M&A skills needed by HR professionals. Tremendously helpful. I actually bought two copies of this book. One for me, and the other for our Corporate Development Officer, who sometimes forgets how important the "people issues" really are in M&A!

This book is more than I expected. It hits the issues squarely in the face. How important is HR in an acquisition? According to the national survey in this book, VERY IMPORTANT! And then it tells you how to take charge and be a player in the process. This book covers almost every scenario. I read another book by the same author on Winning at M&A and it seems like he took that foundation, broke out the HR piece and drilled down with case studies and employee type issues. I could have done without the survey results -- they only reminded me that HR has a long way to go. Better late than never. Good value.

This book really stands the test of time. With all the merger activity and stock market chaos that has ensued this year, Empowering HR still is fresh and insightful. No other book for human resource professionals reveals this much or provides such pointed guidance on making an acquisition work (as it advances your career). I can honestly say that it has helped me more recently than when I first bought it.

I think this is a powerful book. We're not just talking M&A here but empowering HR in the vital role of management leader. Spans all phases of HR management and advancement. A must read...and must keep! A valuable tool as well for my staff.

The book only provides a small amount of good, basic information about the role of human resoures in M&As. The majority of the book simply reviews the results of a survey that the authors published - certainly not one needs to read in order to learn about HR and M&As. The book also many times restated what was written in the first few chapters. Certainly not worth the high price of the book - maybe worth $15.00?

Buy it only if you are willing to pay a high price tag for a very basic, simple, brief introduction to M&A in the HR profession.