Certified M&A Integration Associate - Lehrgang von Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gGmbH

Modules

Module 1 presents major factors that set the framework for a post-merger integration. After presenting major stages of an M&A process it becomes clear that post-merger integration starts already in the pre-closing stage. The module also shows how business-overlaps drive both cost synergies and revenue synergies, and how synergies for their part drive the degree of integration and the target operating model.

Integration Framework

Module 2 shows that Integration Management is  more than standard project management. It starts with demonstrating that any post-merger integration is managed through phases and that integration speed is above all about prioritising integration tasks. The module illustrates that Integration Management requires leadership on various levels and that teams are a major vehicle for managing post-merger integration. It wraps up with illustrating that success of integration is often more than just financials and that Integration Management demands proactive risk management.

Integration Management

Module 3 shows that post-merger integration is more than drawing new organisational charts. It illustrates how integration can greatly disturb the cultural peace of an organisation and that integration is emotional and stressful for all individuals from both organisations. The module illustrates why change management is a management task in post-merger integration that cannot be delegated. It closes with showing that communication is mandatory in almost any case to address merger-related fears and uncertainties.

People Integration

Module 4 presents the triple challenge of integrating support functions taking HR, Finance and IT as examples. It gives various task examples for HR managing people topics such as reassuring and retaining key people. Providing further examples on how Finance functions take and maintain control the module illustrates also how to control money flows and to consolidate and report financials. Regarding IT it further outlines task examples for establishing secure IT connections, and aligning IT applications and systems in order to connect people and processes.

Functional Integration

Module 5 illustrates that Business Integration is not business as usual by discussing examples from Research and Product Development (R&PD), Procurement, Operations, and Sales & Marketing. It shows that R&PD integration is about securing today’s offerings while planning for tomorrow’s and that Procurement needs to manage cost savings also beyond quick wins by analyzing spending in-depth. With regard to Operations the module illustrates how to balance cost savings and business continuity risks assessing consolidation options. It also illustrates how Sales & Marketing maintains and intensifies customer relationship management in a post-merger integration.

Optionally, this online training can be completed with an online exam to achieve the certificate of Certified M&A Integration Associate (Frankfurt School). The exam is based on a case study, which can be written within the training period or in addition to the online training.

Degree: Certified M&A Integration Associate (Frankfurt School)