Title: Appreciative Intelligence®: post merger communication in a public organisation

Authors: Petra Parkkali; Hanna Lehtimäki; Tojo Thatchenkery

Addresses: Business School, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland ' Business School, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland ' School of Policy, Government and International Affairs, George Mason University, Arlington, VA 22201, USA

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to show how the appreciative approach can be applied to support post merger management. Appreciative Intelligence® and appreciative inquiry approaches were applied in a public organisation which had undergone an integration process where three government units merged into a single operating unit. An appreciative inquiry intervention and two follow-up interviews were conducted in the case organisation. The study contributes to the literature on the management of the post merger integration process by a focus on the human integration and by a focus on the outcomes of positive interaction.

Keywords: Appreciative Intelligence®; appreciative inquiry; post merger management; communication; public organisations; government units; unit mergers; integration; positive interaction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2015.071159

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2015 Vol.15 No.2/3/4, pp.115 - 127

Published online: 13 Aug 2015 *

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