The Role of Identity During Post-Merger Integration: An Investigation of the Merger of Three Scottish Colleges

This thesis examines the role of identity in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), by exploring the influence of multiple identities on individuals’ reaction. The concept of identity as a key factor in predicting individuals’ behaviour during mergers and acquisitions has received considerable attention in organisational studies. However, research in the field has predominantly being approached at organisational level via the social identity lens, despite increasing evidence of multiple identities and the prominence of other relevant theories of identity. Consequently, this singular focus on social identity has meant that, only one identity (i.e. organisational) tends to be explored in M&A research. Current research argues in order to understand the significance of identity for M&A, implications of identity at different levels, and theoretical backgrounds need to be integrated and examined. Furthermore, a process conceptualisation of identity is required to reflect the key underpinnings of identity as multiple, relational, discursively constructed, and ongoing.As a result, to provide a comprehensive understanding of this relationship, an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research design was considered appropriate. IPA requires that experiences are studied as they occur in consciousness, due to the assertion that what individuals say about their experience is an indication of their reality; which also aligns with the process philosophy stance of becoming The findings, demonstrate that, there are points of convergence between the different conceptualisations and levels of identity therefore emphasising the significance of research adopting this approach to capture the different complexities of identity. A key contribution of the thesis is the proposed new approach for interpreting identity that takes into consideration identities at different levels and theoretical lens. Additionally, the thesis also contributes to studies exploring multiple identities, by identifying how different patterns of interaction between multiple identities impacts the individual and the organisation as a whole, in order to, with the aim of developing key measures to secure identification post-merger and enhance the likelihood of merger success. It also introduces an integrative model for managing identity during mergers in any organisational context