I was recently traveling to a few of my customers. Through these meetings, I realized that a lot of project delays we experienced are caused by cultural differences between our companies.  As a SaaS customer or partner, how often have you noticed cultural differences affecting project timelines or outcomes with vendors?

Culture & ValuesMentoring & Coaching

Very often38%

Occasionally39%

Rarely18%

Never2%

Unsure

272 PARTICIPANTS
4.8k viewscircle icon1 Upvotecircle icon1 Comment
Sort by:
Founder in Services (non-Government)a year ago

Cultural differences is a big term and could mean a lot of things.   At it's deepest level culture is about the unquestioned assumptions a group of people make.   These assumptions show up in values and then the practices and systems and norms.   

With Saas organizations the biggest cultural difference comes from the methodology.  Is one group interested in the creativity, autonomy, and moving quickly of an Agile methodology while the other more focused on a calculated, risk-averse, certainty focused waterfall methodology.  It may not even be talked about.   

Getting clear on norms and doing joint chartering to get on the same page is the best of many incomplete options of how to make this less bad.  

Content you might like

We’re currently evaluating alternative Microsoft Licensing Solution Providers (LSPs) due to ongoing dissatisfaction with our current partner under our Enterprise Agreement (EA). As we look to make a change, we’re hoping to learn from others in the community who have navigated similar transitions. We’re particularly interested in your experiences with: • LSPs that provide more than just transactional value — Have you worked with an LSP that offered strategic guidance, proactive support, or added value beyond licensing fulfillment? • Partner delays due to LSP involvement — Have you encountered inefficiencies or delays when your consulting partner had to coordinate through an LSP? How did you address this? • Hybrid approaches — Has anyone adopted a model where the LSP handles licensing while a separate consulting partner provides strategic or technical support? How has that worked in practice? Any recommendations, red flags, or lessons learned would be greatly appreciated. We’re aiming to ensure we’re getting the best support and strategic alignment possible moving forward. 

Which of the following is most effective in enhancing remote employee's wellbeing?

Increased flexibility to balance work/home life51%

Virtual gatherings (happy hours, coffee chats, book clubs)31%

Increased visibility from leadership/management team14%

Stress management resources2%

Other (not listed above)

View Results

How can IT make sure a formerly remote org is ready for a return to office? If you’ve gone through this, what areas needed the most prep before RTO?

We are in the middle of redesigning our leadership development program and are having a debate about if the cohorts should be made up the same teams (So a VP and their Directors, Directors and their managers, etc) or if the cohorts should be cross-functional with limited consideration given to reporting relationships. The cohorts would run 6-18 months depending on the track.

Has anyone done cohort-based learning where a leadership team did it all together? What were pros and cons vs a more random cross-functional cohort?

Read More Comments

Which is larger: the benefits of a remote workforce, or the costs?

Benefits (follow-the-sun work schedule, larger talent pool, potential cost savings)86%

Costs (more difficult to collaborate, weaker office culture, lower productivity)13%

I was recently traveling to a few of my customers. Through these meetings, I realized that a lot of project delays we experienced are caused by cultural differences between our companies. As a SaaS customer or partner, how often have you noticed cultural differences affecting project timelines or outcomes with vendors? | Gartner Peer Community