Transplant Shock
Mergers, acquisitions, and major pivots are business transplants.
When a tree is transplanted, it loses 60-90% of its fine root system. The remaining 10-40% must support 100% of the original shoot system. The math doesn't work.
The tree enters survival mode: Growth stops. Leaves may drop. Hormones signal stress. Stored reserves are mobilized. Professional foresters expect 1-3 years of near-zero growth post-transplant for large trees.
Success rate decreases exponentially with size: Small seedlings (1-2 years) achieve 90%+ survival. Young trees (5-10 years) average 50-70%. Mature trees (20+ years) drop to 10-30% survival unless extraordinary care is taken.
Business Application of Transplant Shock
Mergers, acquisitions, and major pivots are business transplants. Companies that try to 'transplant' mature business units face the same problem: you can move the visible structure but you can't move the root system (relationships, processes, culture) intact. Expect 1-3 years of disrupted growth.