One of our main actions in 2008 was to complete the integration of our operating organisation in EPN, M&M and NG and to ensure a successful post-merger process for the parts of the organisation that were integrated in 2007.
During the first half of 2008, the integration planning committee, which consists of representatives of the corporate executive committee and the trade unions, has been involved in planning and designing the new operating model.
From the 2nd quarter 2008 and throughout 2009, project teams in the business areas that are involved in the second phase of the integration will complete the staffing process and implement the changes that the new operating model requires.
We have also carried out an integration monitoring survey which measures progress and satisfaction between our people and the merger process every three months. The results for 2008 indicate that the staff who were integrated in 2007 increasingly feel that they are being well taken care of, and that they have influence on decisions regarding their own work situation. For our people undergoing the integration in 2008 and 2009, the results are less positive.
Several activities have been carried out in order to ensure a successful post-merger process for the employees that were integrated in 2007. An integration research team, consisting of external researchers from three research institutions, International Research Institute of Stavanger, Institute for Research in Economics and Business Administration (SNF) and FAFO, have been charged with delivering an independent evaluation of the entire integration process. The research programme will run for three years. So far, 13 professors and researchers, one PhD candidate and 13 master students have been able to generate new knowledge and research about mergers and organisational outcomes based on data material and observations from the ongoing integration process in our company.
In 2009, one of our major post-merger activities will be to further strengthen the common, integrated company identity by launching our new vision and company name.
