1. If mergers and acquisitions quite often end up providing a competitive disadvantage, why do so many of them take place? Given the poor track record of such outings, is the continuing M&A activity a result of principalagent problems and managerial hubris? What can be done to overcome principalagent problems? Are there other reasons for poor performance?
2. Acquisitions can sometimes lead to less access or higher prices for consumers. Comcast bought NBC Universal (from GE). When one content provider and the Internet access provider are the same, will this lead to some content being favored over others on the Internet? For example, will Comcast want to send Universal movies (which it owns) with faster download capabilities than it sends, say, a Harry Potter movie from Warner Brothers (which it doesnt own)? If you were a Comcast executive, would you want to favor the speed of your own content delivery versus other content providers, including Netflix?
3. What are the five basic reasons that firms make acquisitions? Over the next 10 years or so, do you think any of these reasons will become more important than the others? If so, why?
4. What process should be used to successfully integrate acquisitions and why is integration important? What are the major pitfalls of acquisitions? How can these pitfalls be prevented?

answer any one of these