Title: Understanding the subcultures key to ERP implementation: an empirical investigation

Authors: Parag Kosalge, Jaideep Motwani

Addresses: Grand Valley State University, 401 W. Fulton, #429C, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, USA. ' Grand Valley State University, 401 W. Fulton, #429C, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, USA

Abstract: Firms often turn to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as a solution to operational level problems leading to business excellence. But what can be done when process maps give you a clean bill of health instead? This paper examines two such companies with severe operational problems that were considering ERP implementation. Traditional process maps could not unearth any operational problems. This stymied ERP implementation as process analysis gave no hope for any major performance improvements. Further analysis of the operations revealed issues located in the organisational subcultures, leading to the root of the process performance failures. This study provides the impetus for reengineering process analysis methods to include the humanistic side of the business operations, leading to better ERP implementation. It can also help reengineer performance measures and metrics used to assess and benchmark business processes.

Keywords: enterprise resource planning; ERP implementation; organisational subcultures; business process maps; process mapping; business excellence; reengineering; organisational subcultures; process performance; performance failures.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2008.017566

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2008 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.55 - 70

Published online: 17 Mar 2008 *

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