an empirical study

Martins, R., Oliveira, T., Thomas, M., & Tomás, S. (2019). Firms’ continuance intention on SaaS use: an empirical study. Information Technology and People, 32(1), 189-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-01-2018-0027Purpose: Although studies have investigated reasons for software as a service (SaaS) adoption, it is unclear how firm-level SaaS use impacts future SaaS intentions. The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model that integrates the technology-organization-environment framework, institutional theory, diffusion-of-innovation theory and the opportunity-risk framework to analyze the drivers of SaaS use and its continuance intention. Design/methodology/approach: The authors evaluated the direct, moderating and mediating effects of determinants on SaaS continuance intentions using structural equation modeling and data from 301 firms. Findings: Results found that top management support and normative pressures influenced SaaS use. Cost saving and security concerns were direct predictors of perceived opportunities and perceived risks, respectively. Perceived opportunities and risks and actual SaaS use influenced SaaS continuance. Interestingly, perceived opportunities were found to be a negative moderator on the relationship between SaaS use and SaaS continuance. Originality/value: The results reveal insightful and controversial findings for SaaS research.authorsversionpublishe

Process virtualization theory (PVT) and institutional theory (INT) to explain SAAS adoption

Software as a service (SaaS) is a service model in which the applications are accessible from various client devices through internet. Several studies report possible factors driving the adoption of SaaS but none have considered the perception of the SaaS features and the pressures existing in the organization’s environment. We propose an integrated research model that combines the process virtualization theory (PVT) and the institutional theory (INT). PVT seeks to explain whether SaaS processes are suitable for migration into virtual environments via an information technology-based mechanism. INT seeks to explain the effects of the institutionalized environment on the structure and actions of the organization. The research makes three contributions. First, it addresses a gap in the SaaS adoption literature by studying the internal perception of the technical features of SaaS and external coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures faced by an organization. Second, it empirically tests many of the propositions of PVT and INT in the SaaS context, thereby helping to determine how the theory operates in practice. Third, the integration of PVT and INT contributes to the information system (IS) discipline, deepening the applicability and strengths of these theories

Cloud Computing Adoption: A Cross-Continent Overview of Challenges

Cloud computing continues to dominate information and  communication technology (ICT) strategies globally through the provision of remote access to computing resources via the internet. With its inherent pay-per usage model, flexibility,  scalability and other features, cloud computing is also set to transform economic activities around the world. This paper  analyses and compares the challenges facing the adoption of cloud computing from a geo-regional context; Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. An institutional theory perspective is used as framework for analysis. Findings from Norway in Europe and Nigeria in sub-Saharan Africa show that there are several challenges to cloud computing adoption in both places that are similar but impact on adoption decisions in different ways. For instance, the key adoption issues used as bases for comparison in Norway viz.  security, privacy and trust, cost, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), government policies and regulations, and loss of control over data can all inhibit or pose as hindrances to cloud computing adoption. Contrarily, in Nigeria, these issues are not seen as inhibiting cloud computing adoption. Furthermore, the findings show the profound effect of normative and coercive pressures in Norway that can impact negatively on adoption decisions and theabsence of such pressures in Nigeria which seem to have a  positive influence on adoption at present.Keywords: Cloud Computing; Adoption; Europe; Sub-saharan Africa; Institutional Theor

Deinstitutionalising Existing Technologies to Institutionalise Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud computing is attracting attention in business world as well as in academic research. This interest is spreading fast to different areas of demand and supply side of cloud computing. However, the decision to move to a cloud is dicey and requires lot of attention in deinstitutionalising existing organisational technical infrastructure to facilitate implementation, assimilation, routinization, and institutionalisation of cloud services. At the core of this process is as much of emphasize on unlearning as it is on learning to use cloud services. The overall aim of this research is to facilitate this process by developing theoretical and practical support for business organisations to transfer to cloud paradigm. However, this paper describes the background and the research framework that drives this research to obtain the overall objectives. This paper highlights that the process of deinstitutionalisation and reinstitutionalisation is evolutionary and nonlinear and its success depends on a number of organisational, technical, environmental, social, cultural, and other institutional factors and their mutual interactions

Factors Influencing Adoption of Digital Marketing by the Supermarkets in Sri Lanka

Digital marketing is quickly becoming more popular for product sourcing, allowing businesses to engage with customers and gain a competitive edge. In an ever-changing business environment, supermarkets need to create a competitive advantage by making effective use of digital marketing. However, there has been little empirical study on supermarkets so far. This study investigates the factors that influence digital marketing adoption by supermarkets through the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework. This research in progress manuscript reports on data collected from 45 management-level employees working at Keells supermarkets in Sri Lanka. Findings revealed that top management support in the organizational context, followed by consumer pressures in the environmental context, security concerns in the technological context, and trading partner pressures in the environmental context, has the greatest influence on supermarkets\u27 behavioural intention to adopt digital marketing. These preliminary findings provide directions for further model refinement and preparation for larger scale investigation of this topic