Mergers and acquisitions?

[Lisa Heft]

Phil --

You asked:
<Does anyone have experience using OS as a facilitative tool for a
corporate merger of two similar-sized companies (~100 each - if numbers
matter)?>

I have used OS after the merger of two entities and creation of a third
to join them - a luxury golf resort facility merged with a luxury resort
facility + winery (joining a newly-created management entity handling
them both).

The objective was similar to the one you describe - how to bring these
two (previously competitors) cultures together as one family.

As a hotel is a 24-hour 7-day-a-week entity, the whole organization(s)
(combined = 400 people) could not take a retreat together, but a
representative cross-section could and then filter that energy and
information back through all levels of the organization.  65 people from
Guest Services, Food & Beverage, Catering, Spa, Engineering &
Landscaping, Human Resources, Accounting, Property Maintenance,
Kitchens, Golf, Real Estate and New Projects, Administration, Sales and
Housekeeping (all the 'divisions') came together for 2 days.  Everyone
from the General Manager to the maids to the wine expert to the guy who
drives the golf cart were there, representing the full system.

The theme:

How to Make This *THE* Premiere Experience / Location
   for owners     for employees    for our guests

(what would it look like? how do we get to where we need to be?)


38 topics were generated, including:

*         Computer Interface / Improving Systems
*         Motivating Guest and Staff
*         Defining the Dream
*         Making Meetings More Productive
*         Incentives or Why Should I Care
*         Everybody is a Sales Person
*         Competition Between Departments
*         How to get rid of the word "NO" with our staff and guest
*         If we are all on the same team why do we make it harder for
each other to do our jobs?
*         What Is Control
*         Every Day We Must Create Memories (this means for the guests,
who return because they have fond memories)
*         Why Would I Want to Work / Stay
*         Fun In the Workplace and How to Have More
*         How Does This Merger Benefit US?
*         How to Generate Revenue
*         Taking Ownership - Negativity and Gossip in the workplace

and my favorite title:
*        Welcome back Mr. JONES. It's great to see you again
(about how and why customers return)

Upon reflection, participants felt that this named the delicate things
and moved them forward, helped them appreciate one another and realize
they all had an incredible passion and dedication to serving the
customer and that they all felt very personally connected to their work.

I look forward to hearing more of these stories of OS and
mergers-acquisitions,

Lisa

________________________________

L i s a   H e f t
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
O p e n i n g  S p a c e
2325 Oregon
Berkeley, California
94705-1106   USA
+01 510 548-8449
lisaheft at openingspace.net
www.openingspace.net



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