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ABSTRACT Most companies embarking upon a merger and acquisition strategy seek to reduce their operating costs, expand their business territory, and increase management efficiency. But are “mergers and acquisitions” really a magic pill that can supercharge a company’s growth? Empirical studies and statistics compiled by many researchers indicate that a high proportion of mergers and acquisitions end in failure, and personnel problems are at the root of many of these unsuccessful cases. The announcement of mergers between several securities dealers in Taiwan around the end of 1999 launched a merger and acquisition trend in the securities and financial industries. The goal of this study is to understand whether there is any difference in perceptions of “workplace stress” and “organizational commitment” among employees among employees of acquiring company and acquired company after securities firms merge. The question of whether securities industry “demographic variables” have any effect on “workplace stress” and “organizational commitment” has also been investigated. Regression analysis has been employed to determine whether “workplace stress” and “organizational commitment” are mutually correlated. The objects of this study are employees of a subsidiary of a large securities dealer, and a questionnaire survey was given to sample employees. A voluntary sampling was taken at 23 subsidiaries in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. Cluster sampling was employed to issue questionnaires based on the number of employees at each of the 23 subsidiaries. A total of 638 questionnaires were issued throughout Taiwan, and 492 of these were returned─yielding an effective return rate of 77%. The following findings were made: 1.There were no significant differences in perception of workplace stress among employees of the acquiring and acquired companies. 2.There was a significant difference in perception of organizational commitment among employees of the acquiring and acquired companies, but there was no significant difference in perception of “retention commitment” and “effort commitment. ” 3.Among demographic variables, marital status, age, and level of education had no significant effect on perception of workplace stress. In contrast, gender, seniority and department type had a significant effect on perception of workplace stress. 4.Among demographic variables, gender, marital status, and age had no significant effect on perception of organizational commitment. In contrast, level of education, seniority and department type had a significant effect on perception of organizational commitment. 5.It was found that perception of workplace stress among employees of the acquiring and acquired companies may affect organizational commitment.
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