EXPLOITING SYNERGY FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The desire to achieve synergy via shared resources is a primary motiva tion for many mergers, acquisitions and alliances. However, all too of ten the benefits of synergy are never realized. Using the results of e mpirical studies from a wide range of manufacturing and service indust ries, the authors develop a series of checks which can be used to dete rmine whether there is potential for synergy from shared resources; wh ether that potential is realized and whether the synergy will lead to a sustained competitive advantage. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.