This document outlines five key factors for a successful IT transformation during a merger or acquisition: 1) Early involvement of IT in planning to allow proper preparation, 2) Implementation expertise within IT to handle complex tasks, 3) A comprehensive view of business processes, applications, infrastructure and organization, 4) Experienced employees able to handle specialized challenges, and 5) Strong alignment between business and IT goals and processes. The success of M&A projects increasingly depends on effective involvement and support from the IT department.