Resolving System-Organizational Misfits: Literature Review and a Framework

Despite the increasing adoption of off-the-shelf ERP systems and the accumulation of industry experience, implementation failure rates remain high. One of the key causes is the persistent misalignment between standardized ERP processes and the specific processes of adopting organizations, which are commonly referred to as system-organizational gaps or misfits. While numerous studies acknowledge these misfits, only a few offer clear classifications of misfits and structured resolution frameworks. This article presents a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed academic studies from 2005 to 2025, aimed at identifying and synthesizing strategies for resolving ERP-related misfits. Given the methodological diversity of these sources, a mixed-method synthesis was employed: tabular analysis summarized key study features, while thematic synthesis uncovered recurring patterns in resolution strategies. The review identifies a wide variety of misfit types and corresponding resolution strategies. While conceptually rich, the literature lacks empirical comparisons of strategy effectiveness and remains fragmented across industries and phases of the ERP lifecycle. These gaps underline the need for future research to bridge theoretical insight with actionable, cross-contextual resolution models. The article concludes with recommendations for future research aimed at bridging the gap between conceptual understanding and practical application.