International mergers and acquisitions, or IM&A, can be daunting. The thought of bringing two large companies that operate in different countries together, whether it be through a bolt-on acquisition or a merger combining two companies, is exciting however we know there will be a lot of hard work involved. The challenges faced in IM&A include culture, values, retention, language, community, law, and much more. There are four HR roles commonly associated with human resources and IM&A (Antila, 2006). These roles are strategic partner, administrative expert, employee champion, and change agent. During an IM&A, each role is utilized throughout the process. To be successful in these roles, individuals need to know the business and be able to overcome any challenges presented. Therefore, the questions for this week’s module are: If you were involved in an international acquisition, and you knew the business, which HR role would you want to work in? What are the 3 most difficult challenges you might expect to face in that HR role during the international acquisition? References Antila, Elina M. 2006. “The Role of HR Managers in International Mergers and Acquisitions: A Multiple Case Study.”
