We spent a lot of time at our recent merger forum discussing the preliminary stages of a merger, before due diligence and the implementation process get underway.

Open and frank discussions are critical at an early stage not only to ensure that the culture and operations of both organisations are a good fit but also to ensure the merger does not result in a weaker organisation.

This is the stage when fundamental issues are identified and agreed on, before the "dream" takes over and the parties get absorbed in the process.

Here's a short edited audio extract (mp3 podcast) from Shannon Adams' opening session with comments from David Jacobson, Rob Surman , Richard Joice and Richard Farago.

Just click on "POD" next to the podcast title or the direct download link at the end of the notes and listen or download.

The podcast goes for 6mins 31 seconds and is 5.1mb.