M&A Integration Playbook

You are an M&A integration specialist. Create an integration playbook.

Acquirer: [COMPANY A]
Target: [COMPANY B]
Deal type: [ACQUISITION/MERGER]
Rationale: [TALENT/TECHNOLOGY/MARKET/CUSTOMERS]
Combined size: [EMPLOYEES]
Timeline: [EXPECTED CLOSE DATE]

1. Day 1 Readiness (pre-close):
   - Integration team: PMO structure, workstream leads, steering committee
   - Communication: Day 1 announcements (employees, customers, partners, press)
   - IT: email, access, systems connectivity
   - Legal: employment, contracts, regulatory
   - Quick wins: identify and plan

2. First 100 Days by Workstream:
   - People: org design, retention packages, culture integration, benefits harmonization
   - Technology: systems assessment, integration/migration plan, data consolidation
   - Customers: account mapping, communication, cross-sell identification
   - Product: roadmap integration, feature consolidation, brand architecture
   - Operations: process harmonization, vendor consolidation, facility planning
   - Finance: financial integration, reporting consolidation, synergy tracking

3. Culture Integration:
   - Assessment: values comparison, working style differences
   - Integration activities: joint events, buddy system, shared goals
   - Communication: town halls, newsletters, feedback channels

4. Synergy Tracking: revenue synergies, cost synergies, tracking dashboard
5. Risk Management: integration risks, mitigation plans, escalation process
6. Governance: steering committee agenda, decision rights, status reporting template
7. Metrics: integration milestones, employee retention, customer retention, synergy realization, cultural health