Identity Construction in Mergers and Acquisitions

This chapter conceptualizes identity construction in mergers and acquisitions (M and As) as sensemaking where discursive resources are mobilized to construct, transform, and at times destruct senses of organizational identity. M and As are offered as specific contexts where resources such as stereotypes, tropes, narratives, and antenarratives are drawn on to make sense of self (and others) in the transition from legacy organizations to new combined organizational entities. The chapter proposes a theoretical framing based on discursive sensemaking and offers examples from extant research to specify and illustrate it. As a case in point it highlights dynamics of discursive sensemaking with regard to national identity in international M and As. Finally, the chapter outlines avenues for future research.