| Abstract: | Service firms account for 55% of all mergers and acquisitions deals which were done in the 1980s, so it is essential that we understand better the benefits they seek and the challenges they encounter. This study identifies the specific benefits sought and challenges encountered in the mergers and acquisitions as reported by the CEOs of 174 major firms operating across five service sectors. The study also identifies the management's choice of strategies for entering international markets. Clear differences exist among these service sectors in the benefits sought, the challenges encountered and their international market entry strategies. However, merging different cultures and integrating different staffing policies were identified as major challenges in all the sectors. |
