A Multi Perspective Approach for Understanding the Determinants of Cloud Computing Adoption among Australian SMEs

Cloud computing is proved to be an effective computing technology for organisations through the advantages that it offers such as IT technical agility and scalability, enhancing businesses processes, and increasing enterprises competitiveness. In Australia, there is an emerging trend that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) begin to adopt this technology in the conventional working practices. However, there is a dearth of prior studies on examining the factors that influence the cloud computing adoption among Australian SMEs. To fill the empirical vacuum, this research-in-progress proposes an integrated framework for examining the determinants of cloud computing service adoption with the consideration of the unique characteristics of Australian SMEs, such as relatively low adoption of cloud computing services, less innovative, and limited knowledge about cloud computing and its benefits and hindrances. To this end, we are conducting consecutive studies to investigate this research issue. An exploratory interview study will be applied to observe and verify the characteristics of Australian SMEs toward the cloud computing adoption. This is followed by an organisational level survey that examines the effects of determinants on cloud computing adoption. Finally, a decision model for cloud computing adoption among Australian SMEs will be developed by using a Multi Criteria Decision Approach (MCDA) through rating, prioritising, and ranking of various criteria and alternatives available to the decision makers. Adopting the mixed-method research fashion, this research-in-progress intends to make significant implications to scholars and practitioners alike in the cloud computing research and applications areas

CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES ADOPTION IN AUSTRALIAN SMES: A FIRM-LEVEL INVESTIGATION

Cloud computing services can boost the competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and leverage countries’ economies. In the Australian context, there is an emerging trend that SMEs begin to embrace cloud technology in their traditional business activities. However, prior studies did not pay much attention to investigating the factors that influence the cloud computing adoption among Australian SMEs. To fill the research gap, this paper investigates the influential factors that affect the decision on adopting cloud computing services for Australian SMEs. Protocol data collected from fifteen firm-level semi-structured interviews with practitioners are presented and discussed. The protocol analysis indicates that various factors are important to the adoption of cloud computing services for Australian SMEs, such as security concerns, cost savings, and privacy due to geo-restrictions. Furthermore, this study confirms the insignificance of complexity and competitive pressure factors in the adoption of cloud computing among Australian SMEs. These findings have imperative implications to scholars and practitioners alike in the cloud computing research and applications areas

CLOUD COMPUTING ADOPTION DETERMINANTS: AN ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN SMES

In Australia, there is an emerging tendency among SMEs towards the adoption of cloud computing. However, there are limited studies investigating the factors that influence cloud computing adoption within Australian SMEs. To fill the research vacuum, we developed a research model based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI), the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework, and our prior exploratory study to investigate the determinants that influence the adoption of cloud computing. An organizational-level survey was conducted across Australia to collect data from technology decision makers in SMEs. Data collected from 203 firms are used to test the related hypotheses. This study contributes a statistically validated model of the influential determinants of cloud computing adoption. Data analysis indicates that Technological Factors (cost savings, relative advantages, compatibility, and trialability), Organizational Factors (firm size, top management support, innovativeness of the firm, and IS knowledge), and Environmental Factors (market scope and external computing support) were found to be determinants of the adoption of cloud computing services. Benefits of the findings are twofold. First, they provide knowledge about cloud computing determinants in the Australian marketplace. Second, they provide policy planners and SMEs’ decision makers with insights and directions for successful adoption of cloud computing technology

Cloud computing adoption decision modelling for SMEs: a conjoint analysis

Cloud computing is an emerging technology that promises competitive advantages, cost savings, enhanced business processes and services, and various other benefits to enterprises. Despite the rapid technological advancement, the adoption of cloud computing is still growing slowly among small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs). This paper presents a model to support the decisionmaking process, using a multi-criteria decision method PAPRIKA for the socio-technical aspects influencing SMEs cloud adoption decision. Due to the multifaceted nature of the cloud computing adoption process, the evaluation of various cloud services and deployment models have become a major challenge. This paper presents a systematic approach to evaluating cloud computing services and deployment models. Subsequently, we have conducted conjoint analysis activities with five SMEs decision makers as part of the distribution process of this decision modelling based on predetermined criteria. With the help of the proposed model, cloud services and deployment models can be ranked and selected

UNDERSTANDING DETERMINANTS OF CLOUD COMPUTING ADOPTION USING AN INTEGRATED DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION (DOI)-TECHNOLOGICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL (TOE) MODEL

Purpose of the study: This study aims to investigate the internal and external factors for CC adoption decisions of companies in Izmir, Turkey using a combination of DOI and TOE models. Methodology: This is a confirmatory survey of businesses, forming a questionnaire for 176 IT decision-makers of non-cloud or cloud user businesses in the city of Izmir in Turkey. SmartPLS 3.0 software is used to assess the determinants affecting cloud computing adoption. Main Findings: The study identified relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and top management support, using security and privacy concerns and cost savings as mediating variables of relative advantage for CC adoption. The survey results indicated that complexity and top management supports are significantly important for efficient CC adoption. The model explained 41.2 percent of CC adoption. Applications of this study: The study is believed to be useful in fields including business development for most sectors, computing, cloud providers as well as researchers on business administration, sales, marketing, and IT infrastructure. Particularly this study and the suggested framework will help companies and businesses adopt CC appropriately. Moreover, as suggested in the study, governments can use such frameworks when encouraging cloud providers to support companies in their decision making and transition periods for CC adoption. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study will undoubtedly contribute to the decision making processes of the companies for CC adoption. Through the integrated in-depth analysis of the factors that affect the adoption decisions in an industrial region of Turkey, the study will also provide valuable data for the researchers and businesses within similar company personas

A Taxonomy of Motives for Cloud ERP Adoption

Much of the existing literature focuses on critical factors for successfully introducing cloud ERP systems. However, researchers have paid relatively scant attention to identifying the underlying motives that persuade organisations to consider adopting cloud ERP systems successfully. Understanding organisational motives are essential because: a) they can affect the extent of cloud ERP deployment and b) changes that organisations are willing to incorporate for achieving the expected business values. Based on a content analysis of 40 online Australian case stories, this research reports an empirically derived taxonomy of organisational motives for adopting cloud ERP. The 2-dimensional taxonomy consists of types and locus of motive. The strategic motives were found to be the most significant type of motive for cloud ERP adoption, whereas the internal motives indicated a stronger influence on the adoption decision. The proposed taxonomy provides a springboard for further studies to investigate motivations for the adoption of cloud ERP

Multi-Perspective Decision-making Cloud Computing Adoption Model for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

The research aims to test the model of integrated DOI theory and TOE framework to predict Cloud Computing (CC) decision-making intentions of SMEs, Izmir, Turkey. The survey data was collected from 140 Information Technology (IT) decision-makers via Google forms survey tool. Confirmatory factor analyses were made to examine the decision-making approach of SMEs. The study revealed that the variance of top management support and complexity explained 29.8% of the decision-making approach to CC adoption. The originality of the study is that the research on cloud computing in Turkey is scarce and not comprehensive either. In addition, they are not for Turkish SMEs. This research will bring together an introductory plan for cloud providers to understand the intentions of SMEs for adopting cloud computing. This research will also provide scholars with an in-depth analysis of the status contributing to the academic research in the field of ICT development in developing countries. This study will contribute to SMEs’ ICT infrastructure policies, and support governments in creating a legal framework to make laws for a secure environment for SMEs to reduce costs, and gain a competitive advantage over Large Enterprises (LEs). Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-SP1-010 Full Text: PD

Tracing the Clouds. A research taxonomy of cloud-ERP in SMEs

Cloud computing is an enabler and accelerator of digital transformation, which has brought many advantages that only large companies had before for any start-up and small firm could benefit. Cloud-based computing in the form of SaaS (Software as a Service) has given rise to a revolutionary new way of delivering software applications via the Internet on a pay-per-use basis. Cloud-ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions have become more affordable, easier to implement, simpler to maintain, and thus especially suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have limited resources and may not be willing to invest in on-premise solutions. Employing this technology empowers integrated management of business processes and has the potential to add technical and strategic business value for small businesses. Given the claimed significance of SMEs in a structure of the world economy, we embarked on a detailed study of the existing published literature to determine the status quo of research on cloud-ERP technology in SMEs and how it has evolved in terms of quantity, content, and publication outlets. This is achieved by systematically reviewing 74 articles from 43 journals and 22 conferences published between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2019. Using the ERP life-cycle-based framework by Esteves and Pastor (1999), articles are classified according to six life-cycle phases: adoption decision, acquisition, implementation, use and maintenance, evolution, and retirement. The findings, derived from a meta-analysis, illustrate that while current literature and studies related to the adoption decision phase are very rich, research on other phases of the ERP life cycle lacks strong empirical validation, due to a limited amount of publications. This study presents a comprehensive, structured literature review on cloud-based ERP adoption among SMEs and provides both academics and practitioners with a holistic view of the state of the current body of knowledge on the topic along with an understanding of how cloud-ERP in SMEs research is evolving

Investigating Cloud ERP Adoption in Australian Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study

Background: Some higher education institutions (HEIs) are constantly under pressure to deliver superior quality education services at low costs through deploying traditional on-premise systems. Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (Cloud ERP) presents an ideal opportunity to lower HEI costs in terms of scalability and pay-per-use features. Adoption of Cloud ERP is, however, still low for the context of HEIs. The successful adoption of Cloud ERP depends not only on the support of system providers but also on understanding Cloud ERP adoption from the client organization perspective. This study explores Cloud ERP adoption in the context of Australian HEIs. Method: This study adopted a case study methodology involving the in-depth semi structured interviews of several key stakeholders. Thematic analysis was used to analyze and interpret interview data. Results: Based on the case study, our findings suggest that this particular Australian HEI was subject to strategic, operational, technological, and financial motives originating from either internal or external locus. Most of the expected motives were realized, except the full flexibility of Cloud ERP. Four major challenges of Cloud ERP implementation were found. Conclusion: This study empirically investigates Cloud ERP adoption in HEIs by identifying the motives, realized benefits and challenges of Cloud ERP adoption, which bridges the research gap of this topic. This study could assist Cloud ERP providers to adjust their marketing strategies to promote the adoption rate of Cloud ERP in HEIs. Understanding the motives, challenges and benefits of IT adoption in HEIs facilitates judicious decision-making prior to selection and minimizes the possibility of the failure of Cloud ERP adoption

Cybersecurity Issues and Practices in Cloud Context: A comparison amongst Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

The advancement and the proliferation of information systems among enterprises have given rise to cybersecurity. Cybersecurity practices provide a set of techniques and procedures to protect the systems, networks, programs and data from attack, damage, or unauthorised access (ACSC 2020). Such cybersecurity practices vary and are applied differently to different types of enterprises. The purpose of this research is to compare the critical cybersecurity threats and practices in the cloud context among micro, small, and medium enterprises. By conducting a survey among 289 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Australia, this study highlights the significant differences in their cloud security practices. It also concludes that future studies that focus on cybersecurity issues and practices in the context of cloud computing should pay attention to these differences