Conventional wisdom holds that 70-80% of mergers fail. Generally that is due to the fact that “usual suspects” are in the room when decisions about the why and how of mergers are made. But the usual suspects aren’t the “unusual suspects.” These unusual suspects may not know where the bodies are hidden, but they don’t need to know. These key connectors know how work gets done, as well as when and why it should be changed. These are the people you want on your change management or transitions teams in mergers. This counter-intuitive approach yielded counter-intuitive results in several M&A cases for VA Tech (Austrian-based), International Paper, HP, and Aera Energy, a merger between Shell (Call Resources) and Mobil Oil.
Press Releases
→ Upcoming Event: RightBrains Events; Network science, Einstein and show-stopping data: Dr. Karen Stephenson, one of the keynote speakers at our June summer event! Don’t miss out on a chance to learn how technology enhances the power of networks! Tickets are available here
→ July 2019 - IntechOpen: The Clash of Cultures: Digerati and Devolution in the Twenty-First Century
→ May 2019 - RightBrains: The ‘accidental’ anthropologist
→ October 2018 - TrustSphere: Social Network Analysis Pioneer, Dr. Karen Stephenson Joins TrustSphere to Build its Science Advisory Board
→ January 2013 - Greensboro, NC: Social Network Analysis Expert Karen Stephenson Named Visiting Fellow at The Center for Creative LeadershipTestimonials
NetForm showed us how to increase the value of our company by leveraging the knowledge of our employees. I was able to successfully implement an acquisition strategy and sell the company at a much higher valuation.
Ken Follansbee, CEO
CTINetForm identified significant gaps in our global structure. The analysis allowed us to quickly see where knowledge transfer was not occurring along global product lines. We then developed appropriate intervention techniques which ultimately proved significant in increasing revenue streams, particularly in the non-US regions.
Maria Leo, First Vice President
Merrill Lynch"I never knew we could use data like this to help us better organize and merge our divisions. It is the best consulting dollar I have ever spent.”
Corey Billington, Head of the Procurement
Hewlett-PackardVice Admiral McGinn, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs at the Pentagon credits a NetForm analysis with breaking a bureaucratic logjam. “I think the metaphor Karen uses of being a radiologist for organizations is a good one,” McGinn says. “You take an X-ray or you take a scan of an organization with a survey, and then you analyze that scan to determine appropriate interventions.”
Vice Admiral McGinn, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
Warfare Requirements and Programs at the PentagonInternational Paper employed NetForm Analysis during the acquisition of a Corrugated Paper facility in Wooster, Ohio. Edwin Ford, Plant Superintendent for the International Paper Corrugating plant found NetForm’s analysis of merger activity between two IP plants to be extremely useful. Ford explained: “I was astounded not only by the power of the data, but by the visual formatting of it as well. I did not anticipate how useful the survey results would be.”
International PaperWe identified strategic gaps using network analysis and this allowed our top leadership to effectively change its compensation structure to better recognize and reward team performance. The company reaped the benefits.
Joe Movizzo, EVP
Consulting ServicesJim Hackett, CEO of Steelcase, used NetForm to develop a new e-commerce business. “I am very excited about your relationship with us and our potential to change the impact of our products and planning principles to help our customers. It's a very plum thing for Steelcase when we get recognized for knowledge alliances like yours.”
Jim Hackett, CEO
SteelcaseJuan Carlos Bueno, CEO of Agar-Cross Dupont in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had the following to say when asked about his evaluation of NetForm’s services used during the adoption of a de-centralized business model that required large-scale organizational change: “Without a doubt, they dominate the network analysis tool, and what they obtain from it is excellent.”
Juan Carlos Bueno, CEO
Agar-Cross DupontNetForm® Resource Clients Include:
- JPMorgan
- Merrill Lynch
- Harvard
- Mobil/Shell
- IBM
- International Paper
- Hewlett-Packard
- The Department of Defense
