Successful post-merger integration must take place rapidly and methodically through translating strategy into comprehensive activities that bring into line process, people, and technology in line with integration and value capture objectives. To do so, it will require an effective governance structure which is referred to as the Integration Management Office or IMO. Failure to capture deal value is seldom due to an unsound strategy, it is often an outcome of not executing the post-merger integration strategy in an effective and well-timed manner.

A well designed and operating IMO will assist the integration to stay on course and maintain focus on the right activities at the right times, and I suggest the following steps in scaling up the IMO by firstly defining the transaction integration strategy, guiding principles, and governance model. This would be followed by an IMO kickoff meeting with cross-functional senior leadership to agree on the following: IMO vision for integration, management of integration, integration governance model, steering committee and workstream leaders, high level integration goals, the integration project and transaction timeline, project charter including cross-functional step plans, target operating model, walk-the-wall diagrams, workstreams as well as functions’ participation, data sharing and document control guidance, integration project plans including identifying PMO, and functional playbooks required.

Ultimately, the IMO is the heart and soul of a successful post-merger integration, it functions as the central touch point for every function involved, and it must be specifically designed to meet the requirements and value drivers of each transaction being executed, regardless of the integration approach. The IMO and integration roles must be supported by well-communicated integration community ecosystem and staffed by experienced resources with a common timeline and methodology vital to guarantee the post-merger integration continue moving on, and the teams involved in the project are focused on the right activities at the appropriate times.