Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) have become the dominant mode of growth
for firms seeking competitive advantage. As M&A continues globally, companies
involved have the opportunity for increased involvement of HR. Mergers and
acquisitions (M&A) have been a popular strategy for organizations to
consolidate and grow for more than a century. However, research in this field
indicates that M&A are more likely to fail than succeed, with failure rates
estimated to be as high as seventy-five percent. People-related issues have
been identified as important causes for the high failure rate, but these issues
are largely neglected until after the deal is closed. Literature suggests that a
larger role for HR professionals in the M&A process would enable organizations
to identify potential problems early and devise appropriate solutions. This paper
attempts at explaining the role of HR in M&A and explores the challenges and
opportunities for HR professionals in M &A, both from domestic and crossborder
perspectives.