Five Frogs on a Log: A CEO's Field Guide to Accelerating the Transition in Mergers, Acquisitions And Gut Wrenching Change
Author: Mark L. Feldman, Michael F. Spratt
List Price: $40.00
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ISBN: 088730981X
Publisher: HarperBusiness (01 January, 1999)
Sales Rank: 9,525
Average Customer Rating: 4.26 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
This book saved my company twice
I've purchased over 50 copies of this book. Before our first acquisition attempt, I bought this book for the entire executive team. We used it as a field manual. It was great. It gave us solid guidance and confidence while we were sorting out union accommodations and shareholder approvals. But, when union demands became difficult we remembered the authors saying that deal momentum often results in closing bad deals. This is because CEOs generally don't want to walk away from the high investment of time and resources they have already put into deal completion. The authors compellingly asserted that with the odds generally against acquisition success, if you can't do a deal on your terms, don't do it. After much debate we decided the authors had a point. We walked away from the deal. Looking back, this advice alone saved our company.Our second acquisition was completed. But the two management teams began to argue immediately. We set up transition teams and made certain everyone had a copy of "Five Frogs". This book became our bible for accelerating the integration of the companies. The guidelines on post-deal priorities, reorganization and communication helped break through every impasse. We followed their advice to the letter and we've been growing profitably ever since. We are still following the book's advice and I'm still giving copies of the book to new colleagues and other CEOs. If you're going to merge two companies, do what we did. Buy this book for every member of the management team and insist that they read it. You'll be glad you did.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Wonderful book! Buy it and read it!
I have been involved with mergers and acquisitions from the Human Resources point of view for many years. This is the best and enjoyable book I have ever read on the subject. The book is funny and well thought out. A short, concise, practical way to view the M&A process. If your company is planning a merger or acquisition or is even thinking about one, read this book.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Very thought provoking
This book is an excellent view of the M&A process from a very different angle. Many books cover the mechanics of the process, but this one looks at the outcomes for human beings - our most important assets. I would recommend it highly. Similar Products
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Book Index