Week 2 Discussion

 
Acquisitions, Mergers, and Restructuring
Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link Doing Discussion Questions Right, the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.
For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned.
Respond to the following questions using the lessons and vocabulary found in the readings.
This discussion assignment has three parts. You should use brief headings to separate your post into the three sections.
In the first section, do some research to identify an organization that has recently experienced acquisition, merger, or restructuring as discussed in the course materials. Briefly describe the action (e.g., acquisition, merger, restructuring) including an evaluation of why it occurred and the outcome (e.g., is it working? Is it accomplishing what was expected?). This first section only needs to be one or two paragraphs.
For the second section, select one of the following bullet point topics. If someone has already posted on one of the bullet points, select another one until all the bullet points are used so that we can discuss several different relevant topics. Once all the bullet points have been addressed, then you may begin to reuse the bullet points with the expectation that varied responses continue. The second section of your post only needs to be one or two paragraphs.

Of the many reasons discussed in your readings for making acquisitions, the rationale that may be the strongest is that acquisitions allow firms to capture new capabilities. From among the other reasons for making an acquisition listed in the readings, choose the one that you think provides the strongest rationale for making an acquisition. Defend your choice with research and provide appropriate examples.
Similar to the previous bullet point, choose a reason for making an acquisition that you think provides the weakest rationale. Defend your choice with research and provide appropriate examples.
As noted in the course lecture, mergers and acquisitions are similar strategic moves. Evaluate some of the reasons that an organization might choose one option (merger or acquisition) over the other. Defend your reasons with research and provide appropriate examples.
Evaluate when restructuring can be seen as a positive business strategic move. In your response, be sure to analyze how shareholder value is created through restructuring. Defend your reasons with research and provide appropriate examples.

The final section or paragraph (three or four sentences) of your initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1 to 2 single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.