18 Areas Executives Should Agree on Before M&A Integration Planning Begins

Integration teams need clear direction in 15 areas before they begin detailed planning.

When M&A integration teams begin planning without clarity from top management, they are more likely to make the wrong assumptions, draw different conclusions, and veer off on tangents.

Before the integration teams begin the detailed planning process, the executive team should be aligned in the following 15 areas (not listed in order of importance):

1. End States ("Mission Accomplished" Defined)
2. Integration Guiding Principles
3. Priorities
4. Extent of the Integration
5. Timing of Integration
6. Key Milestones
7. Major Risks
8. Synergies
9. Cost-to-Achieve Synergies
10. Additional Benefits from Deal
11. Key Objectives
12. Integration Metrics
13. Product/Service Portfolio
14. Go-to-Market Strategy
15. Brand Strategy
16. Core Messages
17. Non-Negotiables
18. Day 1 Mandatories