In the first of our four-part series, we explore why culture is a strategic imperative in M&A. Often dismissed as a 'soft issue', culture is in fact a powerful force that shapes organisational behaviour, leadership alignment, and change readiness, making it a key determinant of deal success.
Culture in M&A
Part 3: Post-deal cultural alignment action plans
Beyond strategy, financial valuation and operational synergies lies the true test of an M&A deal: aligning people, values and behaviours across the newly combined organisation.
The third installment of the four-part Culture in M&A series outlines why post-deal culture alignment is critical, highlighting the risks of misalignment and the need to translate cultural insights into practical steps. It also introduces seven essential elements of a strong cultural alignment plan to balance strategic intent with human dynamics.
Drawing on proven frameworks and diagnostic tools like Hofstede’s Culture in the Workplace™ questionnaire, culture heatmaps, and pulse surveys, this article offers practical guidance for tracking, measuring, and course-correcting cultural integration. It also addresses common pitfalls and how to avoid them, emphasising that culture must be shaped consciously and collaboratively – not left to chance.
The Culture in M&A series is a collaboration by Grant Thornton Singapore and ODE Consulting.
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Roch Tay heads up the Deals Advisory practice in Grant Thornton Singapore. He has more than 25 years of experience in providing management, financial advisory and human resource consulting services to global and local corporations, as well as private equity houses. He is experienced in advising senior leaders on their organisation transformations, organisation culture re-alignments, people-related considerations in their acquisitions and divestitures, as well as their post-merger integrations strategy development, planning and execution.
Dr Kavita Sethi, co-author of this series, is the Principal Consultant of ODE Consulting® and Global Master Certifier for Culture In The Workplace™. With over 40 years experience, her areas of specialisation include strategy, leadership, cross culture and the design & implementation of competency frameworks. She has designed and facilitated learning, coaching and consulting solutions for large multinationals and local conglomerates.
Read more from the Culture in M&A series
Mergers and acquisitions
Culture in M&A: Part 1
Mergers and acquisitions
Culture in M&A: Part 2
In the second of our four-part series, we delve into the critical necessity of thoroughly assessing cultural compatibility from the early stages of the M&A lifecycle, commencing even before the deal’s finalisation.