Cloud computing in government organizations: towards a new comprehensive model

Cloud computing is a new information technology paradigm, one which has been adopted in many different sectors. Many developing countries are working on improving e-government to provide services to their citizens that are integrated and effective. Therefore, the Saudi government has made improving e-government a high priority. The aim of this study is to explore significant factors affecting the adoption of cloud computing in e-government services in Saudi Arabia as a case study. After identifying these factors, we propose a new comprehensive model for the Adoption of Cloud Computing in Saudi G-GOVernment (ACCE-GOV) that has been adopted from the Technology Organisation Environment (TOE) framework and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory. This research model examines factors of technological context (compatibility, complexity, service quality, security, and relative advantages), organisational context (top management support, organisation size, and technology readiness), environmental context (regulations and competitive pressures), and social context (awareness, trust, and attitude) in regard to the adoption of cloud computing. Ultimately, this study enhances the decision-making of the Saudi government through understanding and highlighting the most important factors that influence the adoption of cloud computing in an e-government context. This is a position paper, reporting on the work in progress. The findings of this study will be useful for the researchers who considers suitability of different methodological approaches for cloud computing adoption and evaluation

Factors influencing cloud computing adoption in Yemen higher education institutions

Cloud-based technology, which is now well established, helps reducing costs and providing accessibility, reliability and flexibility. However, the Yemen Higher educational system has not yet embraced cloud computing due to security and privacy concerns, lack of trust, negative cultural attitudes (i.e. tribalism), and most importantly, little digital devices experience in educational settings as well as lack of knowledge and technical know-how. Thus, this study proposes a conceptual model of cloud computing (CC) adoption in Yemen HEIs by investigating the influence of Technology, Organization and Environment (TOE) factors. In addition, this study investigates the moderating effect of tribalism culture in the relationships between the identified factors and CC adoption. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A preliminary study through semi-structured interviews with ten (10) participants from top management of HEIs to refine and confirm the proposed model. The quantitative approach was used to determine the factors that influence CC adoption in Yemen HEIs through a questionnaire survey. Data were collected from 328 respondents in 38 HEIs and analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results showed that relative advantage, reliability, compatibility, security, technology readiness, top management support, regulatory policy and competitive pressure have a positive significant impact on CC adoption. However, tribalism culture has a negative significant impact towards CC adoption. The study also found that tribalism culture moderates the relationship between compatibility, reliability, security, relative advantage, regulatory policy and CC adoption. This study contributes to TOE model adoption by including the cultural factor as a moderator towards CC adoption in Yemen HEIs. The study also provides a model and insights for HEIs, technology consultants, vendors and policy makers in better understanding of the factors that influence CC adoption in least developed countries (LDCs), specifically, Yemen

Proposing a conceptual model for cloud computing adoption in upstream oil & gas sector

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2020.10.134Cloud computing is a paradigm which offers IT services such as storage, network and processing power via the internet. The technology has gained popularity in recent years with adoption in different sectors due to the numerous benefits it offers such as scalability, flexibility and cost reduction. Although some are quick adopters, others are considered cautious adaptors. The upstream oil and gas industry fall under the latter category due to some challenges with regards to adoption decision. Migrating to a cloud platform depends on a number of factors. A clear understanding of these factors is necessary to enable decision makers in the industry to be more proactive and appropriately guided in their plan towards adoption. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors that may influence cloud adoption in the industry. A literature review was conducted in order to propose an integrated model, which is a combination of the Technology environment organisation (TOE) framework, institutional theory, and diffusion of innovation. The model groups the factors into three fundamental categories. In addition, the study reports benefits of the cloud technology in the upstream oil and gas sector, challenges hindering adoption, as well as approaches by earlier researchers to support cloud migration in the industry

A systematic literature review of factors affecting cloud computing adoption internationally

Context: The adoption of cloud computing in small and medium size organisations has become a significant trend in today’s information technology. Therefore, there is a requirement to identify possible security challenges and guidelines for the researchers based on the adoption. Keeping in view of these elements, a systematic literature review (SLR) of cloud computing adoption in businesses and organisations was conducted. Goal: The main purpose of this research is to identify the possible opportunities, challenges, factors and guidelines for the evaluation and adoption of cloud computing (CC) for organisations intending to adopt or already using CC. Method: ASLR is conducted to achieve the above goals. The search process of this literature review used quality scholarly databases such as ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, Inspec, Springer, Google Scholar, Researchgate, Google Books and Wolverhampton University Online Library(8 types of databases) along with open-access journals for relevant articles. Results: A total of 561articles were found of which 85articles met the included criteria. Nine different categories were identified securing CC adoption in organisation, namely (1) CC adoption (n=30); (2) CC security (n=18); (3) CC overview / Objective (n=8); (4) CC adoption challenges (n=7); (5) CC adoption factor influencing (n=7); (6) CC adoption factor affecting (n=6); (7) CC future forecast (n=4); (8) CC adoption decision (n=3); (9) CC adoption & implementation (n=2); Conclusion: The basis of this SLR can help the development of guidelines to support newcomer companies whether to adopt and migrate to CC, the evaluation of relationship between nine factors and the selection of providers.Published onlin

Influences of management practices in the temporary organisation and their effect on value

Purpose: This thesis explores management practices in temporary organisations and their influence on value. In doing so, it examines a premise advanced by other researchers that coordinating labour and promoting best-practice communications are pathways to unlocking value at enterprise level and in the socio-economic sense. Design: For the purpose of accumulating data, two case studies conducted over six years and focused on separate projects, each significant in scope and complexity, were theorised as temporary organisations. At different points in time, each business was either implementing change externally or undergoing its own change. Findings: While neither temporary organisation formally defined or articulated value, the ensuant research indicates that targeted management practices had a propensity for its generation, primarily through constructive stakeholder relationships, by coordinating labour especially in times of change, and by implementing enhanced communications techniques such as feedback loops. It suggests that management practices influence social value in this setting and contribute to company profit—a hallmark of value theory—bringing benefits to the immediate enterprise and society. These case studies led to the determination that culture, both organisationally and ethnically, catalysed emergent value. Furthermore, by reapplying accumulated knowledge points to intellectual assets and clearly defining labour strategies, both within the temporary organisation and as part of its change mandate, these praxes continue to positively influence value creation. Limitations: While this research provides insights on praxes promoting value within a temporary organisation, certain characteristics of the case-study model as applied emerge as limitations. These potentially include interviewee worldviews, restricted range of management practices considered, or reduced data selection for analysis. Financial data over a range of years following the research period would compensate the limited time period of the research confirming value generation. Limitations on cultural interaction experienced by local employees may have been reduced by strategically addressing tendencies identified. Finally, the nebulous nature of value itself presents limitations, the most intractable arising out of variance over time. Consequently, those governing a temporary organisation are obligated to periodically assess its value boundaries. Future Research: To assist in visualising the tasks involved, an alternative paradigm to articulate value is provided in this thesis, in advancement of a quest to promote intrinsic worth within the greater entity. Future researchers, and practitioners for that matter, in applying and developing this paradigm, will further uphold the virtues of a temporary organisation as a means to value creation, bringing with their contribution a certain cachet in terms of its wider application. Contribution to Industry: While it was established that management practices have the proclivity to generate value, temporary organisations could begin promoting the virtue of their strategic application in order to harness the power that lies in them. While empirical, the paradigm advocated in this thesis is proposed for adoption by a Project Management Standards Authority, such as PMBOK or PRINCE2, as part of a Benefits section. Independent of any such guidance, temporary organisations are urged to implement this paradigm in their own right, the better to incorporate management practices with a view to generating value beyond organisational decrees.Purpose: This thesis explores management practices in temporary organisations and their influence on value. In doing so, it examines a premise advanced by other researchers that coordinating labour and promoting best-practice communications are pathways to unlocking value at enterprise level and in the socio-economic sense. Design: For the purpose of accumulating data, two case studies conducted over six years and focused on separate projects, each significant in scope and complexity, were theorised as temporary organisations. At different points in time, each business was either implementing change externally or undergoing its own change. Findings: While neither temporary organisation formally defined or articulated value, the ensuant research indicates that targeted management practices had a propensity for its generation, primarily through constructive stakeholder relationships, by coordinating labour especially in times of change, and by implementing enhanced communications techniques such as feedback loops. It suggests that management practices influence social value in this setting and contribute to company profit—a hallmark of value theory—bringing benefits to the immediate enterprise and society. These case studies led to the determination that culture, both organisationally and ethnically, catalysed emergent value. Furthermore, by reapplying accumulated knowledge points to intellectual assets and clearly defining labour strategies, both within the temporary organisation and as part of its change mandate, these praxes continue to positively influence value creation. Limitations: While this research provides insights on praxes promoting value within a temporary organisation, certain characteristics of the case-study model as applied emerge as limitations. These potentially include interviewee worldviews, restricted range of management practices considered, or reduced data selection for analysis. Financial data over a range of years following the research period would compensate the limited time period of the research confirming value generation. Limitations on cultural interaction experienced by local employees may have been reduced by strategically addressing tendencies identified. Finally, the nebulous nature of value itself presents limitations, the most intractable arising out of variance over time. Consequently, those governing a temporary organisation are obligated to periodically assess its value boundaries. Future Research: To assist in visualising the tasks involved, an alternative paradigm to articulate value is provided in this thesis, in advancement of a quest to promote intrinsic worth within the greater entity. Future researchers, and practitioners for that matter, in applying and developing this paradigm, will further uphold the virtues of a temporary organisation as a means to value creation, bringing with their contribution a certain cachet in terms of its wider application. Contribution to Industry: While it was established that management practices have the proclivity to generate value, temporary organisations could begin promoting the virtue of their strategic application in order to harness the power that lies in them. While empirical, the paradigm advocated in this thesis is proposed for adoption by a Project Management Standards Authority, such as PMBOK or PRINCE2, as part of a Benefits section. Independent of any such guidance, temporary organisations are urged to implement this paradigm in their own right, the better to incorporate management practices with a view to generating value beyond organisational decrees

An exploration of the determinants for decision to migrate existing resources to cloud computing using an integrated TOE-DOI model

Migrating existing resources to cloud computing is a strategic organisational decision that can be difficult. It requires the consideration and evaluation of a wide range of technical and organisational aspects. Although a significant amount of attention has been paid by many industrialists and academics to aid migration decisions, the procedure remains difficult. This is mainly due to underestimation of the range of factors and characteristics affecting the decision for cloud migration. Further research is needed to investigate the level of effect these factors have on migration decisions and the overall complexity. This paper aims to explore the level of complexity of the decision to migrate the cloud. A research model based on the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory and the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework was developed. The model was tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The quantitative analysis shows the level of impact of the identified variables on the decision to migrate. Seven determinants that contribute to the complexity of the decisions are identified. They need to be taken into account to ensure successful migration. This result has expanded the collective knowledge about the complexity of the issues that have to be considered when making decisions to migrate to the cloud. It contributes to the literature that addresses the complex and multidimensional nature of migrating to the cloud

Conceptual Model of Big Data Technologies Adoption in Smart Cities of the European Union

Big data technologies enable cities to develop towards a smart city. However, the adoption of big data technologies is challenging, which is why it is essential to identify factors that influence the adoption of big data technologies in cities. The main goal of the paper is to propose a conceptual model of big data technologies adoption in smart cities of the European Union. In order to derive the conceptual model following is done: i) overview of the previous Technology-OrganisationEnvironment framework - based research on the adoption of selected information and communications technologies crucial for the development of smart cities, and ii) selection of factors based on the critical examination of the previous research. Selected factors, Absorptive Capacity, Technology Readiness, Compatibility, City Managements Support, the Existence of Smart City Strategy and Stakeholders Support, were incorporated into the conceptual model of big data technologies adoption in smart cities of the European Union. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</p

Information Security Risk Management (ISRM) Model for Saudi Arabian Organisations

This research aimed to investigate the factors influencing information security risk management (ISRM) and develop an ISRM model for large Saudi Arabian organisations. The study employed an exploratory research method following a top-down design approach. The research was conducted in two sequential phases: an interview and a focus group discussion. The research identified 14 factors grouped into the people, process, and technology that influence ISRM in large Saudi Arabian organisations. The proposed model can successfully guide large Saudi Arabian organisations to implement ISRM standards more effectively

TECHNOLOGICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE ADOPTION OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN INSURANCE INDUSTRIES IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF UAP-OLD MUTUAL, NAIROBI, KENYA

The main objective of this study was to find out how the technological, organizational and environmental factors affect the adoption of cloud computing services within insurance industries in Kenya with a case study of UAPOld mutual. The study was anchored on Technological, Organizational and Environmental model; technology acceptance model and Innovation Diffusion theory in its argument. The study used descriptive research design and adopted the stratified random technique. The target population consisted of 483 employees at the headquarters in Nairobi out of which a sample of 215 was picked. This study used questionnaires with closed questions to extract responses from members of the sample population. Data collected was purely quantitative and it was analyzed with the aid of SPSS V23 and presented on tables, figures and charts. Additionally, the study used a multiple regression analysis for the purpose of analysing the relationship between the study variables. From results, Technological factors, Organizational factors and Environment factors all have a significant relationship with the adoption of cloud computing at 5% level of significance and 95% level of confidence. However based on the explanatory power of coefficient of determination the indepedent variables organizational factors had the highest expalantory power of 0.675 or 67.5%, P<0.05, thus being the most significant Variable; Environmental Factors had 0.575 or 57.5%, P<0.05 while Technological factors were the least significant with 0.527 or 52.7%, P<0.05). This showed that all the variables have significantly relationship with the dependent variable (adoption of Cloud Computing). The study also found that Technological factors affected the adoption of Cloud Computing at UAP-Old mutual; Organizational Factors had a positive influence on the adoption of Cloud computing at UAP-Old mutual; Further it was evident that Environmental factors have a significant influence on adoption to cloud computing at UAP-Old mutual. This showed that all the variables have a significant relationship with the dependent variable (Adoption of Cloud Computing). The study further recommended that to be able to develop new ideas, employees must have enough knowledge about the field they operate in to move it forward. To support this, a work environment that is tolerant and welcomes new ideas