MergeSort: M&As from an Engineering Standpoint
Eddie and Morgan return to discuss the intricate aspects of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from the perspective of engineering leadership. This episode builds on their previous discussions, shifting the focus to the challenges faced by companies integrating new technology and teams. They cover motivation types for M&A, emphasizing economies of scale, industry consolidation, vertical integration, and eliminating inefficiencies. They explore the complexities of assimilating acquired technology, the importance of maintainability and extensibility, and setting up a defensible moat. From an organizational standpoint, they address potential pitfalls like the ‘us versus them’ dynamic, handling the expert archetype, and supporting team members experiencing burnout. They also discuss best practices for vetting teams and strategically planning for technology integration.
Creators and Guests
Host
Eddie Flaisler
Eddie is a classically-trained computer scientist born in Romania and raised in Israel. His experience ranges from implementing security systems to scaling up simulation infrastructure for Uber’s autonomous vehicles, and his passion lies in building strong teams and fostering a healthy engineering culture.
Host
Morgan VanDerLeest
Trying to make software engineering + leadership a better place to work. Dad. Book nerd. Pleasant human being.
