The Impact Mechanism of Organizational Culture on ERP Assimilation: A Multi-case Study

Based on competing values framework (CVF), this study employed a multi-case study method to explain how organizational culture influences enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems assimilation. By analyzing the case evidence of four firms from China, we found that (1) internal-oriented culture influences ERP assimilation through coordination mechanisms, (2) external-oriented culture influences ERP assimilation through organization learning, (3) cultural balance within the CVF is of great importance in achieving higher level of ERP assimilation. The research findings can provide guidelines for the firms to facilitate appropriate organizational culture, so as to foster coordination mechanisms as well as organizational learning and achieve business benefits with the assimilation of ERP systems.