merger, acquisition, synergy, time's up, blog, Toby Elwin

Time’s up for merger and acquisition synergy

The mergers and acquisitions world sprinkles potential deals with a bit of pixie dust called synergy. Synergy is neither rational, functional, nor logical.

If HR used the word synergy in an accounting meeting? Laughed out of the room. If HR or human capital used the word synergy in a corporate finance discussion? The time value of money, that is rational. What will it cost? What return will it realize? When will it realize that return? All rational.

Synergy? Synergy is more a pagan fairy than rational way to make a deal.

ostrich, appreciative inquiry, change management, Toby Elwin, blog

Highlight change management — an introduction to Appreciative Inquiry

The ability to change comes from the desire to change. The key to positive change is a person’s intrinsic motivation to change. Appreciative Inquiry works around a premise that we move and change in the direction we inquire.

Inquiries into problems will find problems.

Inquiries into what is working or what is best shines a light onto what works and possibilities of how it could work. Almost anyone can appreciate a switch that turns on a highlight of possibilities.

van helsing, stakeholder, analysis, template, Toby Elwin, blog

Scope or: how to manage projects for organization success; stakeholder analysis template

A stakeholder is anyone, or group, who can positively or negatively affect the outcome of the project. This post introduces two Excel template worksheets for stakeholder identification and management.

Prior to a project’s go-ahead this template identifies groups and individuals with a stake in the success, and failure. The effort makes sure we understand the key concerns and motivations of these audiences in order to mitigate risk to over-look or under-appreciate stakeholder position.