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Article
Publication date: 18 July 2023

Razib Chandra Chanda, Ali Vafaei-Zadeh, Haniruzila Hanifah and T. Ramayah

The main objective of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the adoption intention of cloud computing services among individual users using the extended theory…

Abstract

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the adoption intention of cloud computing services among individual users using the extended theory of planned behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A purposive sampling technique was used to collect a total of 339 data points, which were analyzed using SmartPLS to derive variance-based structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

The results obtained from PLS-SEM indicate that attitude towards cloud computing, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived security, cost-effectiveness, and performance expectancy all have a positive and significant impact on the adoption intention of cloud computing services among individual users. On the other hand, the findings from fsQCA provide a clear interpretation and deeper insights into the adoption intention of individual users of cloud computing services by revealing the complex relationships between multiple combinations of antecedents. This helps to understand the reasons for individual users' adoption intention in emerging countries.

Practical implications

This study offers valuable insights to cloud service providers and cyber entrepreneurs on how to promote cloud computing services to individual users in developing countries. It helps these organizations understand their priorities for encouraging cloud computing adoption among individual users from emerging countries. Additionally, policymakers can also understand their role in creating a comfortable and flexible cloud computing access environment for individual users.

Originality/value

This study has contributed to the increasingly growing empirical literature on cloud computing adoption and demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical framework in identifying the potential reasons for the slow growth of cloud computing services adoption in the developing world.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 July 2022

Md. Nazmul Islam, Md. Shariful Islam, Antora Anwar and Mohammed Khalid Alam

This study aims to find out the current state of cloud-based library services in selected academic and special libraries of Bangladesh. The study also explored some pertinent…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to find out the current state of cloud-based library services in selected academic and special libraries of Bangladesh. The study also explored some pertinent problems faced by librarians in implementing this new technology in library services and activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed-method approach with a range of exploratory research questions. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the libraries. A set of structured questionnaires was designed to address the objectives of the study. For in-depth analysis, short interviews with the library professionals were also conducted.

Findings

Only four libraries made use of cloud computing services, and they maintained a partial cloud environment. Most responding librarians treated cloud computing as a dynamically scalable infrastructure for applications, data and file storage with charges imposed. Most of the respondents (90%) preferred cloud computing for “Software-as-a-Service”. Due to the high subscription rate (70%), unreliable online payment system (60%) and trading system (60%), librarians treated cloud computing as a burden in providing library services and activities. Respondent librarians were also interviewed for exploring their views on cloud computing in library services. For adopting cloud computing in library services of Bangladesh, “sufficient financial allocation” and “organizations’ positive decision over cloud computing” were mentioned as challenging tasks by the respondents. Finally, the study suggested some solutions to the problem and proposed a model for a cloud-based library system that can be replicated in libraries and information centres of other developing countries too.

Originality/value

This paper encapsulates the overall scenario of cloud-based library activities and services in Bangladesh. Based on the available secondary sources, no empirical study on librarians’ perceptions of cloud computing in library services of Bangladesh has been carried out before this study. Thus, this is perhaps the first attempt to quantitatively measure cloud-based services in Bangladeshi libraries.

Article
Publication date: 10 July 2017

Marc Walterbusch, Adrian Fietz and Frank Teuteberg

On account of its easy and intuitive usage as well as obvious advantages (e.g. access to work data from anywhere, at any time and through any means) the evolutionary cloud

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Abstract

Purpose

On account of its easy and intuitive usage as well as obvious advantages (e.g. access to work data from anywhere, at any time and through any means) the evolutionary cloud computing paradigm favors the use of shadow IT. Since many employees are not aware of the associated risks and possible legal violations, unauthorized use of cloud computing services could result in substantial risk exposure for any company. The purpose of this paper is to explore and to extend the body of knowledge concerning the topic of cloud computing with regard to shadow IT.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim of this contribution is to identify the reasons for the use of cloud computing services and the resulting shadow IT from an employee’s perspective, to demonstrate the counteractions a company may take against the unauthorized use of cloud computing services and to elaborate on the inherent opportunities and risks. We follow a mixed-methods approach consisting of a systematic literature review, a cloud computing awareness study, a vignette study and expert interviews.

Findings

Based on a triangulation of the data sets, the paper at hand proposes a morphological box as well as a two-piece belief-action-outcome model, both from an employee’s and employer’s point of view. Our findings ultimately lead to recommendations for action for employers to counteract the risk exposure. Furthermore, also employees are sensitized by means of insights into the topic of unauthorized usage of cloud computing services in everyday working life.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the triangulation reflect the limitations of each applied research method. These limitations justify why a mixed-methods approach is favored – rather than relying on a single source of data – because data from various sources can be triangulated.

Practical implications

The paper includes recommendations for action for the handling of the unauthorized usage of cloud computing services within a company, e.g., the set up of a company-wide cloud security strategy and the conduction of an anonymous employee survey to identify the status quo.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to explore the usage of cloud computing services within the context of shadow IT.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 July 2012

Subhankar Dhar

Many organizations are outsourcing their information technology (IT) related services to a third party vendor for quite some time. However, the IT services industry including…

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Abstract

Purpose

Many organizations are outsourcing their information technology (IT) related services to a third party vendor for quite some time. However, the IT services industry including outsourcing is going through rapid changes with the increasing adoption of Cloud computing. The purpose of this paper is to compare global IT outsourcing with Cloud computing along with the evolution of traditional IT services.

Design/methodology/approach

Cloud computing is a model for provisioning and consuming IT capabilities on a need and pay by use basis. This helps in shifting the cost structure from capital expenditure to operating expenditure and also helps the IT systems to be more agile. This innovative model of acquiring IT related services has made organizations revisit their infrastructure and platform services strategy and optimize their IT spending while improving overall agility. This paper compares global IT outsourcing with Cloud computing along with the evolution of traditional IT services.

Findings

The impact of Cloud computing on IT outsourcing is no doubt significant. Cloud computing represents a fundamental shift in how organizations pay for and access IT services. It has created new opportunities for IT services providers and the outsourcing vendors will have to modify their strategy to take advantage of this new computing paradigm.

Practical implications

This research is relevant for practitioners as well as researchers in the field of IT outsourcing and Cloud computing.

Originality/value

This research compares global outsourcing with Cloud computing along with the evolution of IT services. Very little research has been done in this nascent and important area.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 35 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 March 2018

Maroof Naieem Qadri and S.M.K. Quadri

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to map the on-premise computing system of the university with cloud computing for achieving an effective and reliable university…

1301

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to map the on-premise computing system of the university with cloud computing for achieving an effective and reliable university e-governance (e-gov) system.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model incorporates the university’s internal e-gov system with cloud computing in order to achieve better reliability, accessibility and availability of e-gov services while keeping the recurring expenditure low. This model has been implemented (and tested on a university e-gov system) in the University of Kashmir (UOK); case study of this implementation has been chosen as the research methodology to discuss and demonstrate the proposed model.

Findings

According to the results based on practical implementation, the proposed model is ideal for e-governed systems as it provided adequate cost savings and high availability (HA) with operational ease, apart from continuing to have the necessary security in place to maintain confidential information such as student details, grades, etc.

Practical implications

The implication of this study is to achieve HA and to reduce the cost from using external clouds, mapping internal IT servers of the university with the external cloud computing services.

Originality/value

Because no established mapping model for universities has been provided for effective, low-cost, highly available university e-gov system, the proposed mapping model through this paper closes this gap and provides guidelines to implement a hybrid-mapped e-gov model for universities while keeping the recurring expenditure on cloud computing minimal. The paper provides the perceptions of its adoption at UOK for achieving high reliability, accessibility and uptime of its e-gov applications while keeping the recurring expenditure on cloud computing minimal.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 11 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 May 2015

Vanessa Ratten

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the different factors affecting purchase intention of cloud computing services in Turkey and the USA.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the different factors affecting purchase intention of cloud computing services in Turkey and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A research framework is developed based on social cognitive theory and the technology acceptance model. A survey questionnaire is used based on student responses in Turkey and the USA to see if there are any differences toward purchase intentions.

Findings

A majority of the research hypotheses are supported in both the Turkish and USA sample indicating that there are similarities in perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, consumer innovation and performance expectancy toward cloud computing.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this research have implications for technology companies and marketers operating in North America, Europe and Asia.

Practical implications

As few studies exist on the differences between purchase intention of technological innovations in the USA and Turkey, this paper contributes to a better understanding of whether cultural differences or consumer attitudes effect adoption of emerging technologies including cloud computing services.

Originality/value

This paper focusses on the emerging technological innovation of cloud computing services by examining antecedent environmental factors influencing purchase intention. In total, two different country samples are utilized to gain a better international perspective of the reasons why consumers purchase technological innovations.

Article
Publication date: 25 February 2014

Vanessa Ratten

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of privacy concerns and consumer innovativeness towards consumer's adoption of a technological innovation in the form of cloud

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of privacy concerns and consumer innovativeness towards consumer's adoption of a technological innovation in the form of cloud computing technology.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-cultural comparison between consumers in the USA and China is made through a study of consumers intending to adopt cloud computing services. A review of the technology innovation adoption literature forms the basis of the research propositions, which are based on the extant literature and focused on the innovative adoption behaviour of consumers. A comparative approach is taken to analyse the differences between US and Chinese consumers intending to adopt cloud computing services.

Findings

Findings suggest that there are more similarities than differences between US and Chinese consumers adopting cloud computing services. The survey suggests that the performance expectancy, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use can help predict intention to adopt cloud computing services in both the USA and China, but consumer innovativeness is a better indicator in the USA than in China for consumers adopting technological innovations.

Practical implications

This paper is important for cloud service technology marketers by indicating how social influencers can influence consumer's usage of cloud computing by affecting their social network of friends and family. In addition, insight into how consumers adopt cloud computing by focusing on privacy concerns of personal information being shared can help future technology innovations enter the marketplace at a faster rate.

Originality/value

This paper fills the gap in the current technology marketing and innovation literature on how consumers adopt technological innovations and highlights the importance of increasing the perceptions of performance expectation of service innovations.

Details

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, vol. 6 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2014

Vanessa Ratten

The aim of this paper is to focus on consumer’s perceptions of ethical and innovative aspects of cloud computing services. Cloud computing is a technological innovation that more…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to focus on consumer’s perceptions of ethical and innovative aspects of cloud computing services. Cloud computing is a technological innovation that more consumers are adopting because of its mobility and accessibility in storing data. While there has been an increased awareness of cloud computing by consumers, there is limited research about the factors influencing consumers to purchase cloud services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the technology acceptance model and the social cognitive theory as the theoretical frameworks to understand how perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, ethical self-efficacy, innovation self-efficacy, performance expectancy and privacy impact purchase intention of cloud computing services. Research hypotheses are developed from the literature and tested by a survey questionnaire in India and the USA.

Findings

The results of the analysis suggest that consumers in India and the USA are affected by similar factors when deciding to purchase cloud computing services, but differ in expectations about performance.

Originality/value

This study utilizes Indian and US consumers to compare purchase intentions of technological innovations showing that there are more similarities than differences towards ethical and consumer innovativeness in both countries.

Article
Publication date: 17 May 2013

Marc Walterbusch, Benedikt Martens and Frank Teuteberg

Start‐up companies in particular can benefit from cloud computing services, since frequently they do not operate an internal IT infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to…

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Abstract

Purpose

Start‐up companies in particular can benefit from cloud computing services, since frequently they do not operate an internal IT infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to present a total cost of ownership (TCO) approach for cloud computing services.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a multi‐method approach (systematic literature review, analysis of real cloud computing services, expert interviews, case study) for the development and evaluation of a formal mathematical TCO model.

Findings

It was found that decision processes in cloud computing are conducted ad hoc and lack systematic methods. The presented method raises the awareness of indirect and hidden costs in cloud computing.

Research limitations/implications

Some restrictive assumptions were made. For instance, cost types that focus on an existing internal IT infrastructure were hidden. Future research can combine risk and security aspects by means of a TCO approach. Additionally, benefits management in cloud computing is another new research field that can, for instance, be explored by means of cost‐benefit analyses.

Practical implications

The analysis of relevant cost types and factors of cloud computing services is an important pillar of decision making in cloud computing. The software tool allows for an easy application of the TCO model with reasonable effort.

Originality/value

The paper provides an evaluated mathematical model for the calculation of the TCO of cloud computing services. With this tool, decision makers are able to decide whether outsourcing into the cloud is monetarily attractive; to be more specific, whether the costs associated with cloud computing services are lower than with a pre‐existing infrastructure.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2016

Elisha Ondieki Makori

Modern technological solutions are rapidly changing the information landscape in library and information establishments. One such innovative solution that is gaining momentum in…

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Abstract

Purpose

Modern technological solutions are rapidly changing the information landscape in library and information establishments. One such innovative solution that is gaining momentum in information centers is cloud computing. The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare opportunities and challenges of “cloud computing paradigm” in handling and supporting delivery of information services in university libraries in the face of the present hard economic situation and limited financial budgets.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on current academic literature, document analysis, several editorials and articles on the potential and challenges of cloud computing paradigm in university library and information centers.

Findings

Cloud computing is proving as the best management practice of salvaging information services in university libraries due to numerous competing challenges and issues in institutions of higher education. University libraries in developing countries face many challenges of inadequate information infrastructure, limited financial budgets, manpower issues and rapid changes in technological systems. In the context of hard economic times, cloud computing is critical in adding value as well as advancing the goals and objectives of modern university libraries. Cloud computing is the “best technology practice” that is poised to play crucial roles in enhancing quality provision and delivery of information services in university library and information centers. There are many competing challenges and claims, but potential benefits count more.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on the ideas of cloud services conceptualized from reading academic literature, document analysis, several editorials, articles and professional work experience. The paper identifies that cloud computing paradigm is useful in achieving the goals and objectives of university libraries in this hard economic situation facing institutions of higher learning.

Practical implications

The paper provides practical insights that cloud computing is the “must have technology” for modern university library and information centers already burdened with the demand to develop effective and efficient technological solutions due to subsequent changing needs of the digital information environment. This study is useful for university libraries, information professionals, information communication technology professionals and university management.

Social implications

Cloud computing paradigm provides university libraries with the business opportunity to use comprehensive technological solutions with reduced capital expenditure and safe methods of data storage. This eases the inconveniences normally caused by the need to develop and own such comprehensive technological solutions.

Originality/value

This research looks at the potential of the emerging trend of “cloud computing paradigm” in enhancing quality provision and delivery of information services in university library and information centers in the context of limited financial budgets. Cloud computing has been gaining momentum in Kenya, especially in business organizations as compared to library and information establishments.

Details

Library Hi Tech News, vol. 33 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0741-9058

Keywords

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