Organisational Culture as a Mediator of 5G Implementation Success at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company

Abstract

As digital transformation accelerates across industries, the successful implementation of emerging technologies increasingly depends on underlying organisational culture. This study examines the mediating role of Organisational Culture in the relationship between Higher-Order Critical Success Factors and the successful implementation of 5G technology (S5G) within the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). A theoretical framework was developed from existing literature, positioning OC as a mediating construct between influential factors and 5G implementation success. The framework was empirically validated using data from 382 ADNOC employees via a structured questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed in SmartPLS to assess the measurement and structural models. The measurement model demonstrated adequate construct reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity using the Fornell-Larcker criterion and the Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) ratio. The structural model indicated strong explanatory power, with R² values of 0.580 for OC and 0.629 for S5G. Bootstrapping analysis confirmed the significance of all hypothesised relationships. Notably, the indirect effect of CSFs on S5G through OC was significant (p = 0.002), confirming that OC partially mediates this relationship. Predictive relevance was supported by Q² values exceeding threshold levels, based on blindfolding procedures using Cross-Validated Communality (CCVC) and Cross-Validated Redundancy (CCVR). The validated framework provides practical guidance for decision-makers at ADNOC and similar organisations, enabling them to diagnose internal cultural readiness, align leadership strategies, and prioritise high-impact success factors for effective 5G integration across supply chain operations. These findings underscore the critical role of organisational culture in enabling digital transformation and offer strategic insights for large-scale enterprise technology adoption.