Overview

"Companies that have acquired other enterprises through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have in essence become entities that are akin to the global ""empires"" of history. In this book, the author weaves a unique narrative that looks at both empires of business created from M&A and global empires from world history in an attempt to answer the question: why do certain empires endure for long periods while others collapse in a short space of time. Empires formed from M&A or conquest have a hierarchical relationship of control and domination by a single authority or centre that can be described as a ""parent company"" or a ""mother country"" over another group of people based in a periphery that can be described as a ""subsidiary company"" or ""colony."" Given their similarities in development and structure, the author argues from looking at examples of empires in Western and Asian history as well as major M&A cases that long enduring empires created from M&A and global empires have a common cultural trait; their practice of ""tolerance"" within their organizations/societies. While there are books on the topics of M&A and empires, at present there is no single text that examines the impact of culture on both. This book is intended to fill such a void and provide hints and suggestions to those practitioners of M&A as well as students of business and history who want an accessible, non-technical narrative on what makes empires, whether they are of the nation or of M&A endure and prosper."

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9780415528740

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Reviews

'This book draws a number of original and clever parallels between successful M&A and successful empire building, where both are characterized by hierarchical control and domination by the acquiring entity over the acquired. Unoki argues that both successful M&As and successful empires share a high level of tolerance. Such tolerance has manifested as 1) an avoidance of unequal and discriminatory treatment towards the acquired employees /subjects, 2) respect and observance of cultural autonomy, and 3) the employment of the right people for the right positions regardless of their origin (acquirer or acquired). This tolerance in turn contributes to the prosperity of the empire, the loyalty of the acquired /subjects, and the subsequent long-term stability and continuity of the empire. Unoki provides a well-documented history with vivid accounts that give his assertions credibility. This is a memorable, intellectually satisfying, and entertaining read.' Dr. Patricia Robinson, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University ICS Business School 'This book draws a number of original and clever parallels between successful M&A and successful empire building, where both are characterized by hierarchical control and domination by the acquiring entity over the acquired. Unoki argues that both successful M&As and successful empires share a high level of tolerance. Such tolerance has manifested as 1) an avoidance of unequal and discriminatory treatment towards the acquired employees /subjects, 2) respect and observance of cultural autonomy, and 3) the employment of the right people for the right positions regardless of their origin (acquirer or acquired). This tolerance in turn contributes to the prosperity of the empire, the loyalty of the acquired /subjects, and the subsequent long-term stability and continuity of the empire. Unoki provides a well-documented history with vivid accounts that give his assertions credibility. This is a memorable, intellectually satisfying, and entertaining read.' Dr. Patricia Robinson, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University ICS Business School

'This book draws a number of original and clever parallels between successful M&A and successful empire building, where both are characterized by hierarchical control and domination by the acquiring entity over the acquired. Unoki argues that both successful M&As and successful empires share a high level of tolerance. Such tolerance has manifested as 1) an avoidance of unequal and discriminatory treatment towards the acquired employees /subjects, 2) respect and observance of cultural autonomy, and 3) the employment of the right people for the right positions regardless of their origin (acquirer or acquired). This tolerance in turn contributes to the prosperity of the empire, the loyalty of the acquired /subjects, and the subsequent long-term stability and continuity of the empire. Unoki provides a well-documented history with vivid accounts that give his assertions credibility. This is a memorable, intellectually satisfying, and entertaining read.' Dr. Patricia Robinson, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University ICS Business School 'This book draws a number of original and clever parallels between successful M&A and successful empire building, where both are characterized by hierarchical control and domination by the acquiring entity over the acquired. Unoki argues that both successful M&As and successful empires share a high level of tolerance. Such tolerance has manifested as 1) an avoidance of unequal and discriminatory treatment towards the acquired employees /subjects, 2) respect and observance of cultural autonomy, and 3) the employment of the right people for the right positions regardless of their origin (acquirer or acquired). This tolerance in turn contributes to the prosperity of the empire, the loyalty of the acquired /subjects, and the subsequent long-term stability and continuity of the empire. Unoki provides a well-documented history with vivid accounts that give his assertions credibility. This is a memorable, intellectually satisfying, and entertaining read.' Dr. Patricia Robinson, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University ICS Business School

'This book draws a number of original and clever parallels between successful M&A and successful empire building, where both are characterized by hierarchical control and domination by the acquiring entity over the acquired. Unoki argues that both successful M&As and successful empires share a high level of tolerance. Such tolerance has manifested as 1) an avoidance of unequal and discriminatory treatment towards the acquired employees /subjects, 2) respect and observance of cultural autonomy, and 3) the employment of the right people for the right positions regardless of their origin (acquirer or acquired). This tolerance in turn contributes to the prosperity of the empire, the loyalty of the acquired /subjects, and the subsequent long-term stability and continuity of the empire. Unoki provides a well-documented history with vivid accounts that give his assertions credibility. This is a memorable, intellectually satisfying, and entertaining read.' Dr. Patricia Robinson, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University ICS Business School 'This book draws a number of original and clever parallels between successful M&A and successful empire building, where both are characterized by hierarchical control and domination by the acquiring entity over the acquired. Unoki argues that both successful M&As and successful empires share a high level of tolerance. Such tolerance has manifested as 1) an avoidance of unequal and discriminatory treatment towards the acquired employees /subjects, 2) respect and observance of cultural autonomy, and 3) the employment of the right people for the right positions regardless of their origin (acquirer or acquired). This tolerance in turn contributes to the prosperity of the empire, the loyalty of the acquired /subjects, and the subsequent long-term stability and continuity of the empire. Unoki provides a well-documented history with vivid accounts that give his assertions credibility. This is a memorable, intellectually satisfying, and entertaining read.' Dr. Patricia Robinson, Associate Professor, Hitotsubashi University ICS Business School

Author Information

Ko Unoki has been involved with global marketing, corporate strategy formulation, and strategic alliances while working in the electronics and healthcare industries for several decades, and was also a Senior Fellow at the Twenty-First Century Public Policy Institute of the Federation of Japanese Economic Organizations (Keidanren). This is his first published book.

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