In comparing the success of AOL Time Warner\u27s merger and Hewlett-Packard Compaq\u27s merger, it\u27s easy to see who came out the winner. In comparing their merger strategies, including their focus on HR issues, it\u27s also easy to see why mergers and acquisitions need to be analyzed well in advance and include due diligence, including cultural due diligence, integration planning, and analysis of HR issues, including communication and employee retention. If more companies who are considering merging with or acquiring another company would put as much time as they do money into the merger, and analyze some of the key people-related issues, more mergers would have the fighting chance HP Compaq achieved
