Lesson 16: Surviving a Merger or Acquisition Project – IT’s Role in Corporate Shakeups
Welcome back to my 21-part series on lessons learned throughout my IT project management career. Today, we’re tackling one of the most disruptive events an IT team can face—a corporate merger or acquisition (M&A).
By Tom Jones, IT Project Manager
Welcome back to my 21-part series on lessons learned throughout my IT project management career. Today, we’re tackling one of the most disruptive events an IT team can face—a corporate merger or acquisition (M&A).
If you’ve ever been through one, you know the chaos:
Two IT departments merging into one.
Conflicting systems and duplicate applications.
Layoffs, reorgs, and leadership power struggles.
An M&A can skyrocket your career or turn into a career-killer—depending on how well you navigate the storm.
In today’s lesson, I’ll cover: ✅ What happens to IT during a merger or acquisition. ✅ The biggest mistakes IT teams make during M&As. ✅ How to stay relevant and avoid being “downsized.” ✅ How ezRACI helps IT teams manage transition chaos.
The Acquisition That Nearly Killed My IT Team
In 2019, the company I was working for was acquired by a larger competitor. IT leadership told us, “Nothing will change, and no jobs are at risk.”
Spoiler alert: Everything changed, and jobs were absolutely at risk.
IT budgets were slashed, and projects were put on hold.
Duplicate roles meant layoffs, especially for middle management.
The new company’s systems took priority, leaving our legacy applications on the chopping block.
Leadership made decisions in a vacuum, without consulting IT.
Within six months, half my team was gone, and those who remained were scrambling to align with the new company’s tech stack.
That’s when I learned: Mergers don’t reward those who wait to be told what to do—they reward those who take control of their own future.
The 5 Biggest IT Mistakes During an M&A (And How to Avoid Them)
🚨 1. Assuming “Business as Usual” Will Continue
❌ What happens: Teams assume their projects, tools, and roles will remain unchanged.
✅ Fix it:
Accept that change is coming, even if leadership claims otherwise.
Proactively assess risk—which projects, roles, and systems might be eliminated?
Use ezRACI to map out IT assets before the new leadership dictates changes.
🚨 2. Not Controlling the IT Integration Narrative
❌ What happens: The acquiring company dictates which systems survive without input from your team.
✅ Fix it:
Build a side-by-side IT comparison of both companies’ systems.
Highlight the value of your team’s knowledge and infrastructure.
Position yourself as a leader in the integration process, not a victim of it.
🚨 3. Ignoring Cultural Differences Between IT Teams
❌ What happens: Two IT departments merge, but team cultures clash, leading to dysfunction.
✅ Fix it:
Identify key differences in work style, decision-making, and reporting structures.
Build relationships with incoming IT leaders—don’t treat them as outsiders.
Hold joint planning sessions to align on priorities and ways of working.
🚨 4. Failing to Secure Your Own Job Stability
❌ What happens: Employees focus on “just doing their job” and become expendable.
✅ Fix it:
Make yourself indispensable by showing deep knowledge of critical systems.
Take initiative—offer to lead transition efforts, documentation, or system rationalization.
Expand your role beyond just technical execution—become a strategic partner.
🚨 5. Neglecting IT Governance and Compliance Risks
❌ What happens: Security, compliance, and data retention policies fall through the cracks.
✅ Fix it:
Conduct a full security and compliance review—especially if the acquiring company operates under different regulations.
Ensure data access, permissions, and integrations are managed properly.
Use ezRACI to document ownership of IT assets and compliance responsibilities.
How ezRACI Helps IT Teams Navigate Mergers and Acquisitions
M&As fail when roles, responsibilities, and IT priorities aren’t clear. That’s why I use ezRACI to:
✅ Map out IT assets from both companies for a structured integration. ✅ Clarify ownership so critical systems don’t get lost in transition. ✅ Keep compliance and security on track despite shifting priorities.
If your IT team is facing a merger or acquisition, ezRACI can help you stay organized and proactive.
Final Thoughts: Survive and Thrive During an M&A
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? M&As don’t destroy IT careers—lack of preparation does.
✔️ Be proactive—don’t wait for leadership to tell you what’s happening. ✔️ Showcase your team’s value by taking initiative in the integration process. ✔️ Use structured tools like ezRACI to manage IT transition chaos.
Next time, in Lesson 17: Crisis Mode – Managing IT Projects During a Pandemic, I’ll share how I navigated unexpected global disruptions and kept projects moving forward.
Disclaimer: This blog is written from the perspective of Tom Jones, a fictional IT Project Manager, and is intended for informational and educational purposes. While based on real-world project management principles, all anecdotes and characters in these posts are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. The blog also references ezRACI, a project management tool designed to help teams succeed in project execution. However, these opinions are solely those of the fictional character and do not constitute an official endorsement.
About Tom Jones
Tom Jones: A Veteran IT Project Manager Navigating the Complexities of Enterprise Technology
Tom Jones is a seasoned IT Project Manager with over two decades of experience leading complex enterprise technology initiatives. Based in South Florida, Tom has built a reputation as a pragmatic, results-driven leader who thrives on solving intricate business and IT challenges. His expertise spans project management, IT security, large-scale system migrations, and process optimization, making him a trusted figure in the industry.
Early Life and Education
Tom was born and raised in Pennsylvania, eventually attending Penn State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems (MIS) in 2003. His passion for technology and business integration was evident early on, as he quickly grasped the nuances of systems architecture and project execution. His ability to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders became a defining characteristic of his career.
Professional Journey
Tom's career began at Unilever HPC as a Systems Analyst, where he got his first taste of large-scale enterprise operations. However, he quickly sought new challenges and moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a Consultant for the Department of Defense. This experience exposed him to high-stakes, mission-critical projects where precision and security were paramount.
Over the years, Tom took on increasingly demanding roles, managing SAP migrations, IT security projects, and various large-scale initiatives across industries. His ability to navigate high-pressure environments and deliver results led him to leadership roles in project management, where he excelled in driving teams toward successful project completion.
Leadership Philosophy
Tom's leadership style is rooted in accountability, transparency, and strategic execution. He believes that successful project management isn't just about timelines and budgets—it’s about aligning business objectives with technology solutions while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. His direct, no-nonsense approach has earned him the respect of peers, executives, and technical teams alike.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and ezRACI
In recent years, Tom has expanded his expertise into entrepreneurship, co-founding ezRACI, a SaaS platform designed to streamline compliance, audit trails, and project management workflows. Recognizing the inefficiencies in traditional project management tools, he sought to develop a solution that integrates collaboration features like Slack and MS Teams, industry-specific templates, and intuitive dashboards for workload optimization. His goal with ezRACI is to help teams achieve clarity, accountability, and efficiency in their IT projects.
Personal Life
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Tom is a devoted husband and father of two elementary school-aged children. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his kids' sports teams, and keeping up with the latest industry trends. His wife, who works at the local library, shares his appreciation for continuous learning and knowledge-sharing. Together, they have built a life centered around personal growth, resilience, and community.
Legacy and Vision
With over 21 years in the industry, Tom Jones remains a passionate advocate for effective project management and IT governance. Through his blog, he shares lessons learned, war stories from past projects, and insights on optimizing workflows in modern enterprises. Whether leading large IT transformations or mentoring the next generation of project managers, Tom's mission remains the same: to drive efficiency, innovation, and lasting impact in the world of enterprise technology.
As he continues to build ezRACI into a premier project management tool, Tom is committed to reshaping how teams collaborate, execute projects, and maintain compliance in an ever-evolving digital landscape.