If 75% of all mergers fail, what makes the 25% succeed? Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances are all the rage in today's business world. We have seen and will continue to see in the coming years major shifts in computers, electronics, banking/financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications. Large corporations as well as small, entrepreneurial companies are discovering significant strategic advantage when they merge or align business processes. Joining Forces is a guide to making these combinations successful.From pre-merger planning to post-merger alignment, Mitchell Marks covers the three key components of a successful transition: hardware (organizational structure), software (policies and processes), and people. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.