Among the first attempts, the book investigates both European-Chinese and Chinese-European M&As on the aspect of critical success factors (CSFs). In the book a model called “SCOPE model” is developed as the theoretical framework to guide the whole empirical study. The SCOPE model contains the success criterion of competence-gap closing by M&As and the CSFs classified by five key dimensions of strategy, culture, organization, process, and externalities. Following the research questions of “what are CSFs in European-Chinese and Chinese-European M&As”, “why these CSFs are critical for European/Chinese acquiring companies to be successful in their M&As in China/Europe”, and further “what are similarities and differences between the CSFs in European-Chinese M&As and in Chinese-European M&As”, an embedded mixed methods design is employed: within a primary qualitative case study research, a secondary quantitative survey research is embedded. This book has the contributions in theory, practice, and methodology. The overall contribution lies in advancing the existing research on Chinese inward and outward M&As. This book also contributes to enriching the related literature on the aspects such as M&A performance evaluation and strategy process in M&As. The SCOPE model can be applied as a useful tool to explore and analyze the CSFs in M&As. In addition, this book contributes to providing practical guidelines for European/Chinese acquiring companies in their M&As in China/Europe, thereby improving the M&A success rate to the benefit of both Europe and China. Last but not least, the contribution lies in advancing mixed methods research, especially the embedded mixed methods design.weiterlesen