The differences between the supplier´s and the customer´s business cultures and their impact on the result of an IT project

The aim of this study was to find out what kind of impact differences in the customer´s and the supplier´s business cultures have on the success of an ERP project. 25 different projects over a period of 22 years were analyzed using the information available. 14 of them were selected for survey, and finally four key persons representing the supplier as well as four key persons representing the customer, all with long experience, were interviewed. The survey was conducted using a form with 103 claims concerning business culture, projects, and attitude to colleagues and working, from the viewpoint of both customer and supplier. Business culture seems to influence the success of an ERP project. To ensure the success of the project, the customer and the supplier should be of equal size and have the same type of juridical form and ownership. The supplier should be less conservative than the customer and the supplier´s personnel should value their free time less than the customer´s personnel do. Both should have simple organizations where a worker belongs to one team or department only and has one immediate superior only. Power and responsibility should be balanced, and project managers should have enough power.