Technological determinism: the real reason for change? : The public discourse of the AOL/TimeWarner and US West/Qwest mergers

Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – Scans the top 400 management publications in the world to identify the most topical issues and latest concepts. These are presented in an easy‐to‐digest briefing of no more than 1,500 words. Findings – Despite very different technologies and corporate cultures, Colorado‐based US West and Qwest Communications International completed a controversial $40 billion merger in June 2000. Practical implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.