Going through the process of being acquired twice in the last few months, I’m getting pretty used to how the information dissemination process works.  In a nutshell, there really isn’t any.

From one point of view, I get it - there’s a lot to coordinate, and legal requirements dictate that certain things can’t be shared until certain times and so on.  I get it.  I get it so much I’m really tired of people reminding me about it because they think I don’t get it.  I promise.  I get it.

The other side - the side I seem to always be on is “The Dark Side.” Not like the Dark Side of the Force, more like “people who are in the dark about any details about what’s going on.”  This is actually the majority of the people most of the time, and regardless of how “transparent” communications are supposed to be, management (the people who “know stuff”) generally seems to believe that “more communication is better,” even if there isn’t actually anything to communicate.

If you haven’t been through this process, I thought I’d help you out by throwing together a little Q&A simulator so you know what this is like.

First, imagine you’ve been notified of a very important all-hands meeting.  It’s mandatory.  You must attend.  Your very life depends on it.

You get to the meeting, and the Person In Charge says, basically, “Hey, folks, we’ve been acquired.  We figured this was the best move for the company.  Any questions?”

Now’s the time you get to ask all the questions you might have.  Try them out in my handy simulator:

Ask your question about the acquisition of the company:

Answer:

…and there you have it.

Now go to three or four of these in close succession - one for the whole company, one for your division, one for your group within the division… you get the idea.  Congratulations!  You’ve been through the acquisition experience.