Siemens and Altair: Leveraging AI for Industrial Transformation through a Strategic Acquisition

This case provides students with an opportunity to explore the people-centered side of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with a special emphasis on cultural integration, diversity in teams, and adaptive leadership in global organizations.

In October 2024, Siemens AG, a global leader in industrial automation and digitalization, announced the acquisition of Altair Engineering, a U.S.-based innovator in simulation and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven engineering software, for $10.6 billion. This move aimed to strengthen Siemens’ position in the simulation market, enhance its industrial software portfolio and expand its foothold in the growing Industry 4.0 landscape.

The case centers on the integration of two companies with vastly different cultures: Siemens, a structured, hierarchical, and process-driven German multinational, and Altair, a decentralized, agile, and innovation-oriented U.S. firm. Siemens’ leadership must make critical decisions about how to integrate Altair’s workforce and technology, preserve innovation, align operations, and demonstrate stakeholder value, all while operating in an environment shaped by geopolitical, regulatory, and cybersecurity pressures.

• Identify cultural risks and opportunities in post-M&A integration.
• Assess leadership strategies for aligning diverse organizational cultures.
• Understand how inclusive leadership practices can foster trust and collaboration.
• Apply integration frameworks and leadership models to real-world business dilemmas.
• Explore how leaders manage ambiguity and navigate uncertainty during large-scale transformation.
• Evaluate success metrics for post-acquisition integration from both cultural and business perspectives.