Integration capacity and knowledge-based acquisition performance

Abstract

Even though knowledge-based acquisitions (KBAs) are common, their performance often lags expectations due to difficulties during integration. Building on Penrose’s foundational ideas that managers limit firm growth, we outline a theoretical model that explores how an acquirer’s integration capacity mediates the impact of acquirer and target characteristics (influenced by contextual conditions) on the performance of KBAs. Our theoretical model, based on research consistent with the resource-based view and resource orchestration, suggests the success of acquisitive growth rests on the quality and quantity of an acquirer’s managerial talent. This contributes to research by identifying conditions where acquisitions can provide a means of growth. Additionally, it provides managers a means to assess whether an identified target firm is within an acquirer’s integration capacity.