Selecting Enterprise Systems for Scaling Digital Ventures: An Echeloned DSR Approach

Scaling requires digital ventures to make changes to their organizational and technical architectures. Therefore, digital ventures must select appropriate enterprise systems (ESs) to support their scaling, balancing flexibility for innovation with standardization for efficiency. Using an echeloned Design Science Research approach, this study develops a framework for ES selection in digital ventures. Based on interviews with representatives from eight digital ventures and an ES vendor, the framework guides decision-makers in aligning ESs choices with venture strategy and business process designs. It emphasizes two key logics: (1) flexibility to enable differentiation and (2) growth and standardization to enhance scalability and profitability. The findings of this study aim to contribute to research on digital entrepreneurship, ESs, and scaling, offering practical guidance for digital ventures.