Opening the black box of integration capability : a study of capability development processes among Norwegian serial acquirers

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of how serial acquirers develop dynamic integration capabilities. In this thesis, we applied an inductive approach, analyzing a total of 10 transcribed interviews of Norwegian serial acquirers. We find that a company needs to have all four deliberate learning mechanisms (codification, articulation, sharing, and internalization) established to a medium to high degree, as well as risk-mitigating practices in order to develop dynamic integration capability. Moreover, we suggest that internalization is critical for the firm’s development of integration capability, as it allows for deeper understanding of the processes underlying integration. Lastly, these findings combine the current research on deliberate learning mechanisms and dynamic capabilities and contribute to the serial acquisitions literature.