SAP (China):"You're Out!"

Shaohua Lu, Zhixing Xiao

Research output: Other contributionCase Studies

Abstract

In July 2008, SAP China fired three vice presidents who had openly questioned proposed personnel appointments in their sales meeting, where the new general manager from IBM, Zhang Liesheng, announced a plan to reengineer the organizational structure and processes at SAP China. This reorganization involved appointing four new vice presidents and redefining the positions of two current vice presidents. Two of the positions of the three fired vice presidents were redefined; the third one who was fired was the first person who challenged the personnel changes. There were two different cultures at SAP: a product-oriented German culture and a market-oriented U.S. culture. Although SAP China had adhered to the German style for a long time, the German general manager left and the successor advocated the U.S. style. Consequently, SAP China proposed aggressive growth target, which was opposed by the German-style veterans including the three fired vice presidents. Trouble ensued. This case addresses organizational and cultural management, personnel management, and other issues.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009

Case number

OB-14-060

Case normative number

OB-14-060-CE

Case type

Field Case

Update date

12/12/2022

Supplement

For more details, please visit www.chinacases.org

Published by

China Europe International Business School

Keywords

  • Cultural Conflict
  • Human Resource
  • Restructuring
  • SAP China
  • Software Industry
  • Top Management Team (TMT)

Case studies discipline

  • Organizational Behavior
  • Human Resource Management

Case studies industry

  • Information, Media & Telecommunications

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