For three decades, research has investigated the role of information systems integration (ISI) in mergers and acquisitions (M&As). This research has improved our understanding of the M&A IS challenges and their solutions. However, consolidation and integration across the research is limited. To redress this omission, we review 70 articles published between 1989 and 2016. To do this, we adopt and extend the methodology developed by Lacity and her colleagues to review the empirical evidence in a fragmented IT literature. We code 53 dependent variables and 195 independent variables to identify the robust relationships among them and to model how ISI decisions, including the choice of IS integration methods, partially mediate the effects of the independent variables on ISI outcomes. Examining the relationships in this model, we identify five quasi-independent thematic domains on which we draw to develop an agenda for future research. Our contribution is the aggregation, organization and structuring of the empirical findings in the M&A ISI literature as a basis on which to develop a cumulative knowledge process.
Al SulimanM.H. (2015). In Mergers and Acquisitions-IT: Results of the Absence of CIO in Ex-ante Planning and the Absence of Key IT Staff in Ex-post Integration. The Claremont Graduate University, Unpublished PhD thesis.
3.
AlarantaM. and HenningssonS. (2007). Shaping the Post-Merger Information Systems Integration Strategy, in Proceedings of Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (Waikoloa, USA, 2007); Chicago: IEEE Computer Society Press.
4.
AlarantaM. and HenningssonS. (2008). An Approach to Analyzing and Planning Post-Merger IS Integration: Insights from two Field Studies. Information Systems Frontiers, 10(3), 307–319.
5.
AlarantaM. and KautzK. (2012). A Framework for Understanding Post-Merger Information Systems Integration. Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, 13(1), 5–29.
6.
AlarantaM.E. and MartelaE. (2012). Overcoming Knowledge Gaps in Postmerger Integration, in Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems (Orlando, USA, 2012); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
7.
BakerE.W. and NiedermanF. (2014). Integrating the IS Functions After Mergers and Acquisitions: Analyzing Business-IT Alignment. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 23(2), 112–127.
8.
BaldwinC. and ClarkK. (2000). Design Rules. Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press.
9.
BengtssonL. and LarssonR. (2012). Researching Mergers and Acquisitions with the Case Study Method: Idiographic Understanding of Longitudinal Integration Processes, Handbook Of Research On Mergers And Acquisitions (Ed, WeberY.) Elgar Publishing.
10.
Benitez-AmadoJ. and RayG. (2012). Introducing IT-enabled Business Flexibility and IT Integration in the Acquirer's M&A Performance Equation, in Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems (Orlando, USA, 2012); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
11.
BhattacharyaP. (2016). Identifying Four Key Means of Business Value Creation using Enterprise Systems: An Empirical Study. Journal of International Technology and Information Management, 25(1), 19–38.
12.
BoellS.K. and Cecez-KecmanovicD. (2015a). Debating Systematic Literature Reviews (SLR) and Their Ramifications for IS: A Rejoinder to Mike Chiasson, Briony Oates, Ulrike Schultze, and Richard Watson. Journal of Information Technology, 30(2), 188–193.
13.
BoellS.K. and Cecez-KecmanovicD. (2015b). On Being ‘Systematic’ in Literature Reviews in IS. Journal of Information Technology, 30(2), 161–173.
14.
BöhmM., HenningssonS., LeimeisterJ.M., YettonP. and KrcmarH. (2011). A Dual View on IT Challenges in Corporate Divestments and Acquisitions, in Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems (Shanghai, China, 2011); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
BrownC.V., ClancyG., and ScholerR. (2003). A Post-Merger IT Integration Success Story: Sallie Mae. MIS Quarterly Executive, 2(1), 15–27.
17.
BrunettoG. (2006). Integrating Information Systems During Mergers: Integration Modes Typology, Prescribed vs Constructed Implementation Process, in Proceedings of European Conference on Information Systems (Gothenburg, Sweden, 2006); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
18.
Buck-LewM., WardleC.E., and PliskinN. (1992). Accounting for Information Technology in Corporate Acquisitions. Information & Management, 22(6), 363–370.
19.
BusquetsJ. (2015). Discovery Paths: Exploring Emergence and IT Evolutionary design in Cross-Border M&As. Analysing grupo Santander's Acquisition of Abbey (2004–2009). European Journal of Information Systems, 24(2), 178–201.
20.
ChangS.-I., ChangI.-C., and WangT. (2014). Information Systems Integration After Merger and Acquisition. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 114(1), 37–52.
21.
CyertR.M. and MarchJ.G. (1963). A Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
22.
DhillonG., SyedR. and PedronC. (2016). Interpreting Information Security Culture: An Organizational Transformation Case Study, Computers & Security56(February 2016): 63–69.
23.
DuK. (2015). Research Note—Parenting New Acquisitions: Acquirers’ Digital Resource Redeployment and Targets’ Performance Improvement in the US Hospital Industry. Information Systems Research, 26(4), 829–844.
24.
DuncanN.B. (1995). Capturing flexibility of Information Technology Infrastructure: A Study of Resource Characteristics and Their Measure. Journal of Management Information Systems, 12(2), 37–57.
25.
DuttonJ.E. and DuncanR.B. (1987). The Creation of Momentum for Change through the Process of Strategic Issue Diagnosis. Strategic Management Journal, 8(3), 279–295.
26.
DuttonJ.E. and JacksonS.E. (1987). Categorizing Strategic Issues: Links to Organizational Action. Academy of Management Review, 12(1), 76–90.
27.
EckertM.-L., FreitagA., MatthesF., RothS., and SchulzC. (2012). Decision Support for Selecting an Application Landscape Integration Strategy in Mergers and Acquisitions, in Proceedings of European Conference on Information Systems (Barcelona, Spain, 2012); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
28.
FreitagA., MatthesF. and SchulzC. (2010). A Method for Consolidating Application Landscapes During the Post-Merger-Integration Phase, in Proceedings of International Multiconference on Computer Science and Information Technology (IMCSIT) (Wisla, Poland, 2010), pp. 241–248; Chicago, USA: IEEE Computer Society Press.
29.
Garcia-CanalE., Rialp-CriadoA., and Rialp-CriadoJ. (2013). Speed of ICT Integration Strategies in Absorptions: Insights from a Qualitative Study. European Management Journal, 31(3), 295–307.
30.
GiacomazziF., PanellaC., PerniciB., and SansoniM. (1997). Information Systems Integration in Mergers and Acquisitions: A Normative Model. Information & Management, 32(6), 289–302.
31.
Glazar-StavnickyM. (2016). Organizational and Systems Factors Leading to Systems Integration Success after Merger and Acquisition. Cleveland State University, Unpublished PhD thesis.
32.
GorlaN. and PangP. (2001). Fit Between MIS Integration Strategies and Business Acquisition Strategies. ASCI Journal of Management, 30(1&2), 1–8.
33.
GraebnerM.E., EisenhardtK.M. and RoundyP.T. (2010). Success and Failure in Technology Acquisitions: Lessons for Buyers and Sellers. The Academy of Management Perspectives, 24(3), 73–92.
34.
GrantR.M. (1996). Toward a Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm. Strategic Management Journal, 17(52), 109–122.
35.
GregoryR.W., KeilM. and MuntermannJ. (2012). Ambidextrous IS Strategy: The Dynamic Balancing Act of Developing a ‘Transform & Merge’ Strategy in the Banking Industry, in Proceedings of International Conference of Information Systems (Orlando, USA, 2012); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
36.
HaleblianJ., DeversC.E., McNamaraG., CarpenterM.A., and DavisonR.B. (2009). Taking Stock of What We Know About Mergers and Acquisitions: A Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Management, 35(3), 469.
37.
HaspeslaghC. and JemisonB. (1991). Managing Acquisitions. Creating Value Through Corporate Renewal. New York: The Free Press.
38.
HelfatC.E., FinkelsteinS., MitchellW., PeterafM., SinghH., TeeceD., (2009). Dynamic Capabilities: Understanding Strategic Change in Organizations. Hobocken, USA: John Wiley & Sons.
39.
HenningssonS. (2015). Learning to Acquire: How Serial Acquirers Build Organisational Knowledge for Information Systems Integration. European Journal of Information Systems, 24(2), 121–144.
40.
HenningssonS. and CarlssonS.A. (2011). The DySIIM Model for Managing IS integration in Mergers and Acquisitions. Information Systems Journal, 21(5), 441–476.
41.
HenningssonS. and KettingerW.J. (2016). Managing IT Integration Risk in Acquisitions. MIS Quarterly Executive, 15(1), 1–19.
42.
HenningssonS., KudeT. and PoppK.M. (2016). Managing the Technology Acquisition Integration Paradox at SAP, in Proceedings of International Conference of Information Systems (Dublin, Ireland, 2016); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
43.
HenningssonS. and ØhrgaardC. (2016). IT Consultants in Acquisition IT Integration. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 58(3), 193–212.
44.
HenningssonS., SvenssonC. and VallenL. (2007). Mastering the Integration Chaos Following Frequent M&As: IS Integration with SOA Technology, in Proceedings of Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (Waikoloa, USA, 2007); Chicago, USA: IEEE Computer Society Press.
45.
HenningssonS. and YettonP. (2011). Managing the IT integration of Acquisitions by Multi-Business Organizations, in Proceedings of International Conference of Information Systems (Shanghai, China, 2011); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
46.
Holm-LarsenM. (2005). ICT Integration in an M&A Process, in Proceedings of Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (Bangkok, Thailand, 2005); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
47.
HsuJ. and ChenE.T. (2015). The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Information Systems: A Case of A Software Industry Acquisition, Communications of the IIMA6(1): Article 6.
48.
HunterJ.E. and SchmidtF.L. (2004). Methods of Meta-Analysis: Correcting Error and Bias in Research Findings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage publications.
49.
JainR.P. and RameshB. (2015). The Roles of Contextual Elements in Post-Merger Common Platform Development: An Empirical Investigation. European Journal of Information Systems, 24(2), 159–177.
50.
JeyarajA., RottmanJ.W. and LacityM.C. (2006). A Review of the Predictors, Linkages, and Biases in IT Innovation Adoption Research. Journal of Information Technology, 21(1), 1–23.
51.
JohnstonK.D. and YettonP.W. (1996). Integrating Information Technology Divisions in a Bank Merger—Fit, Compatibility and Models of Change. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 5(3), 189–211.
52.
KanterR.M., YatskoP. and RaffaelliR. (2007). CEMEX (A): Building the Global Framework (1985–2004). In: Harvard Business Review Cases. Harvard Business School.
KieslerS. and SproullL. (1982). Managerial Response to Changing Environments: Perspectives on Problem Sensing from Social Cognition. Administrative Science Quarterly, 27(4), 548–570.
55.
KimH.-G., IijimaJ. and HoS. (2005). A Framework for Analysis of Systems Failure in Information Systems Integration. Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, 4(2), 207–217.
56.
KingD.R., DaltonD.R., DailyC.M. and CovinJ.G. (2004). Meta-Analyses of Post-Acquisition Performance: Indications of Unidentified Moderators. Strategic Management Journal, 25(2), 187–200.
57.
KovelaS. and SkokW. (2012). Mergers and Acquisitions in Banking: Understanding the IT Integration Perspective. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(18), 69–80.
58.
LabuschN., KoebeleF., AierS., and WinterR. (2013). The Architects’ Perspective on Enterprise Transformation: An Explorative Study, in Proceedings of Practice-Driven Research on Enterprise Transformation (Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2013); Berlin: Springer.
59.
LacityM.C., KhanS. and YanA. (2016). Review of the Empirical Business Services Sourcing Literature: An Update and Future Directions. Journal of Information Technology, 21(3), 269–328.
60.
LacityM.C., KhanS., YanA., and WillcocksL.P. (2010). A Review of the IT Outsourcing Empirical Literature and Future Research Directions. Journal of Information Technology, 25(4), 395–433.
61.
LacityM.C., SolomonS., YanA., and WillcocksL.P. (2011). Business Process Outsourcing Studies: A Critical Review and Research Directions. Journal of Information Technology, 26(4), 221–258.
62.
LeeA.S. (2015). Retrospect and Prospect: Information Systems Research in the Last and Next 25 Years. Journal of Information Technology, 25(4), 336–348.
63.
LeFaveR., BranchB., BrownC.V., and WixomB. (2008). How Sprint Nextel Reconfigured IT Resources for Results. MIS Quarterly Executive, 7(4), 171–179.
64.
LeidnerD.E. and KayworthT. (2006). A Review of Culture in Information Systems Research: Toward a Theory of Information Technology Culture Conflict. MIS Quarterly, 30(2), 357–399.
65.
LinF. and ChaoR. (2008). Post-Merger IT integration: An IT Culture Conflict Perspective, in Proceedings of Pacific-Asia Conference on Information Systems (Suzhou, China, 2008); Association for Information Systems.
66.
LinderJ.C. (1989). Integrating Organizations where Information Technology Matters. Harvard University, Graduate School of Business Administration. Unpublished PhD thesis.
67.
MainT.J. and ShortJ.E. (1989). Managing the Merger: Building Partnership through IT Planning at the New Baxter. MIS Quarterly, 13(4), 469–484.
68.
MaloneT.W. and CrowstonK. (1994). The Interdisciplinary Study of Coordination. ACM Computing Surveys, 26(1), 87–119.
69.
MarchJ.G. and SimonH.A. (1958). Organizations. New York: Wiley.
70.
McKiernanP. and MeraliY. (1995). Integrating Information Systems After a Merger. Long Range Planning, 28(4), 454–562.
71.
MedemaS.G. (1996). Coase, Costs, and Coordination. Journal of Economic Issues, 30(2), 571–578.
72.
MehtaM. and HirschheimR. (2007). Strategic Alignment in Mergers and Acquisitions: Theorizing IS Integration Decision Making. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 8(3), 143–174.
73.
MeraliY. and McKiernanP. (1993). The Strategic Positioning of Information Systems in Post-Acquisition Management. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2(2), 105–124.
74.
MorsellG.A., DeekF. and ChakrabartiA. (2009). Post-Merger Technology Integration: Influential Organization and Information Systems Factors, in Proceedings of Americas Conference on Information Systems (San Francisco, USA, 2009); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
75.
MyersM.D. (2008). Integration of Different ERP Systems: The Case of Mergers and Acquisitions, in Proceedings of Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (Suzhou, China, 2008); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
76.
OcasioW. (1997). Towards an Attention-Based View of the Firm, Strategic Management Journal18(Summer special issue): 187–206.
77.
OkoliC. and SchabramK. (2010). A Guide to Conducting a Systematic Literature Review of Information Systems Research, Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems10(26).
78.
ReynoldsP. and YettonP. (2015). Aligning Business and IT Strategies in Multi-Business Organizations. Journal of Information Technology, 30(2), 101–118.
79.
RichmondW.B. and SeidmannA.B. (1992). Incomplete Contracting Issues in Information Systems Development Outsourcing. Decision Support Systems, 8(5), 459–477.
80.
RobbinsS.S. and StylianouA.C. (1999). Post-Merger Systems Integration: The Impact on IS Capabilities. Information & Management, 36(4), 205–212.
81.
RobertsonS. and PowellP. (2001). Managing the IS Function During Mergers, in Proceedings of European Conference on Information Systems (Bled, Slovenia, 2001); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
82.
RossJ.W., WeillP. and RobertsonD. (2006). Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution. Boston, MA, United States: Harvard Business Press.
83.
RoweF. (2014). What Literature Review is Not: Diversity, Boundaries and Recommendations. European Journal of Information Systems, 23(3), 241–255.
84.
SaldañaJ. (2009). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
85.
SarrazinH. and WestA. (2011). Understanding the Strategic Value of IT in M&A. McKinsey Quarterly, 12(1), 1–6.
86.
SchonewilleJ. and BouwmanW. (2012). Contextual Aspects in Enterprise Integration, in Proceedings of 45th Hawaii International Conference on System Science (Maui, USA, 2012); Chicago, USA: IEEE Computer Society.
87.
Scott MortonM.S. (1991). The Corporation of the 1990s: Information Technology and Organizational Transformation. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
88.
SeddonP.B., ReynoldsP. and WillcocksL.P. (2010). Post-Merger IT integration: A Comparison of two Case Studies, in Proceedings of Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (Taipei, Taiwan, 2010); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
89.
SteiningerK., KempingerB., SchifferS., and PombergerG. (2016a). Critical IS Success Factor Analysis in the Context of a Hospital Merger, in Proceedings of Americas Conference on Information Systems (San Diego, 2016); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
90.
SteiningerK., KempingerB., SchifferS., and PombergerG. (2016b). A Process Model for IT Migrations in the Context of a Hospital Merger-Results from an Austrian Case Study. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 223(1), 182–190.
91.
StraussA. and CorbinJ. (1990). Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques., Thousand Oaks, USA: Sage.
92.
StylianouA.C., JeffriesC.J. and RobbinsS.S. (1996). Corporate Mergers and the Problems of IS Integration. Information & Management, 31(4), 203–213.
93.
SumiT. and TsuruokaM. (2002). Ramp New Enterprise Information Systems in a Merger & Acquisition Environment: A Case Study. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 19(1), 93–104.
94.
TaftiA.R. (2009). The Role of Information Technology in Alliances and Mergers. University of Michigan. Unpublished PhD Thesis.
95.
TanriverdiH. and UysalV.B. (2011). Cross-Business Information Technology Integration and Acquirer Value Creation in Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions. Information Systems Research, 22(4), 703–720.
96.
TanriverdiH. and UysalV.B. (2015). When IT Capabilities are not Scale-Free in Merger and Acquisition Integrations: How do Capital Markets React to IT capability Asymmetries Between Acquirer and Target?European Journal of Information Systems, 24(2), 145–158.
97.
ThompsonJ.D. (1967). Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory (1st ed.). Edison, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
TiwanaA. and KonsynskiB. (2010). Complementarities Between Organizational IT Architecture and Governance Structure. Information Systems Research, 21(2), 288–304.
100.
ToppenbergG. (2015). Expanded Understanding of IS/IT Related Challenges in Mergers and Acquisitions: Methods & Research Context, in Proceedings of European Conference on Information Systems (Münster, Germany, 2015); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
101.
ToppenbergG., HenningssonS. and ShanksG. (2015). How Cisco Systems Used Enterprise Architecture Capability to Sustain Acquisition-Based Growth. MIS Quarterly Executive, 14(4), 151–168.
102.
UnkanE. and ThönssenB. (2015). EPOs, an Early Warning System for Post-merger IS Integration, in Proceedings of International Conference on Business Information Systems (Leipzig, Germany; 2015); Berlin: Springer.
103.
VaniyaN., BernusP. and NoranO. (2013). Analysing the M&A Preparedness Building Approach, in Proceedings of International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (Angers, France, 2013); Berlin: Springer.
104.
VieruD. and RivardS. (2014). Organizational Identity Challenges in a Post-Merger Context: A Case Study of an Information System Implementation Project. International Journal of Information Management, 34(3), 381–386.
105.
VieruD. and RivardS. (2015). Knowledge Sharing Challenges during Post-Merger Integration: The Role of Boundary Spanners and of Organizational Identity. International Journal of Business and Management, 10(11), 1–12.
106.
VieruD., RivardS. and BourdeauS. (2016). From Boundary Shaker to Boundary Consolidator by Ways of Symbolic Discourses in a Post-Merger Integration Context, in Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems (Dublin, Ireland, 2016); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
107.
WalshJ.P. (1995). Managerial and Organizational Cognition: Notes from a Trip Down Memory Lane. Organization Science, 6(3), 280–321.
108.
WeberY. and PliskinN. (1996). The Effects of Information Systems Integration and Organizational Culture on a Firm's Effectiveness. Information & Management, 30(2), 81–90.
109.
WebsterJ. and WatsonR.T. (2002). Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature Review, MIS Quarterly26(2): xiii–xxiii.
110.
WijnhovenF., SpilT., StegweeR., and FaR.T.A. (2006). Post-Merger IT Integration Strategies: An IT Alignment Perspective. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 15(1), 5–28.
111.
WilliamsG.S., MayerR.W., ChienW.-W. and WilliamsC.R. (2015). Information Technology Integration in a Postmerger Environment. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 12(1), 39–51.
112.
WynneP.J. (2016). Developing Acquisition IS Integration Capabilities: The Learning Processes of Novice Acquirers, in Proceedings of Australasian Conference on Information Systems (Wollongong, Australia, 2016); Atlanta, USA: Association for Information Systems.
113.
YettonP., HenningssonS. and Bjørn-AndersenN. (2013). “Ready to Acquire”: The IT Resources Required for a Growth-by-Acquisition Business Strategy. MIS Quarterly Executive, 12(1), 19–35.
