Forecasting potential innovation activities in high tech industries triggered by merger and acquisition deals: a framework of analysis
Technologies arising out of successful high tech mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have a significant innovation potential. However, forecasting of the possible output is coupled with uncertainties caused by misleading or insufficient future oriented analytics. The proposed framework facilitates publicly available information and data to forecast potential innovation activities of the companies involved in high tech M&As. A five step scheme of analysis is aimed to assess previous M&A record, intellectual property (IP) portfolios of the focal companies as well as the relevant technological context, and construct pathways of potential innovation activities using elements of a scenario technique and roadmapping. The framework has been tested on the deals including both large concerns and small and medium sized enterprises (SME) We summarize the paper by reflecting on the merits and limitations of the framework on the way to our objective to provide grounded forecasting triggered by M&As to support the decision making.