Since the beginning, Google has been a highly successful experimental lab, not only for products and services but also in using M&A to further its overall strategy. Written by George T. Geis—a noted expert in the field of M&A—Semi-Organic Growth offers an in-depth analysis of Google’s distinctive expertise in the area of mergers and acqui­sitions and shows how M&A activity became a core element in Google’s ongoing ability to thrive. Traditional organizational revenue growth is characterized as organic (internally generated) or inorganic (from acquisition), and this book highlights Google’s unique use of a blended, semi-organic strategy to accelerate product and service revenue.

Semi-Organic Growth clearly illustrates how Google’s M&A moves can be explained by dynamically mapping the media, Internet, and technology platform markets. Effective market modeling dynamics are illustrated with graphics that offer an appreciation of the important categorical M&A dimensions and help to visualize deal constellations. By tapping into these winning market-modeling techniques, any company can increase its core competency in M&A.

The author reveals why Apple and Google traditionally applied dramatically different corporate philosophies to the role of M&A and explains why Google’s acquisition of Applied Semantic was a watershed transaction. Semi-Organic Growth includes profiles of many of Google’s most successful acquisitions and examines why others have failed. The text contains an analysis of the acquisitions that Google has made to strengthen its position in Internet search, accelerate its move into a range of additional Internet products and services, and offers a detailed market model to explain Google’s Internet-related purchases. In addition, the companion website provides videos designed to add to your understanding of the key concepts found in a given chapter.

Semi-Organic Growth explains how acquisitions have played a key role in extending Google beyond its core search and advertising business to an ever-expanding technology platform for new products and services. It walks you through the core workings of Google’s M&As and offers keen insight into an effective strategy for today’s competitive marketplace.