Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) adoption in scale-up organizations : An explorative case-study

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to fill a significant research gap by exploring the dimensions that influence the process of enterprise resource planning (ERP) adoption in scale-up organizations. While previous research has shed light on ERP adoption in different types of established enterprises, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the specific issues faced by small but highly innovation-driven and fast-growing organizations. Methodology: To explore the purpose of this thesis, a qualitative, explorative single case study was conducted at a scale-up organization in Uppsala, Sweden, where the majority of the primary data for the study was collected. A total of 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted, ten within the case organization and an additional three in other scale-up organizations in Sweden. Using a structured methodology to ensure trustworthy and traceable findings, this thesis applied an inductive qualitative research approach. Findings: The results of this work propose a framework that considers the dimensions (1) scale up strategy, (2) organization, and (3) system as influential in the process of ERP adoption in scale-up organizations. Interdependent relationships between the definition of clear strategies for the future, organizational processes to be defined, and the requirements for a system to be implemented drive the ERP adoption process in scale-up organizations.  Originality: The derived SOS framework proposed by this thesis provides a new perspective in the field of ERP literature by elaborating on the triangulation of the scale-up organizations strategic considerations, its organizational processes and constraints, as well as the needs formulated towards the system dimensions in scale-up organizations. Further studies could build on this thesis, for example by exploring the entire implementation process of an ERP system in scale-up organizations or by examining long term effects of existing ERP implementations in this context.