Assignment:
A decision has been made to merge two local businesses. They are both retail stores, one selling ladies` fashion and one selling men’s fashion. Both of them are small, and based in one location in the same town. They have been struggling to survive, and it is hoped that they will have more strength once they have merged. There will be around 50 employees when they have merged. 

You have been engaged as a consultant to help them plan the new merged business. You are meeting with your manager later today to explain how you are going to approach the first meeting that you have arranged with the owners of the two businesses.

You need to prepare for that meeting, and hence you need to write a 1000 word report. In that report you need to explain the following:


1. How you will identify the external factors that are impacting on the businesses and why you will use this approach 
2. How you think that the HR function should be supporting the businesses at this time of change 
3. How the organisation should develop a strategy, and why it is important to do so 
4. The ethical issues that need to be considered