Do strategy, processes, personnel and technology affect firm’s propensity to adopt cloud computing?

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niki Kyriakou ◽  
Euripides N. Loukis

Purpose Previous empirical research on cloud computing (CC) adoption factors has examined the effects of only a small number of firm’s characteristics on CC adoption. The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the effects of a wide set of firm’s characteristics, which concern four important aspects of it, its strategy, processes, personnel and technology, on the propensity to adopt CC. Design/methodology/approach Having as theoretical background the technology, organization and environment (TOE) theory of technological innovation adoption, in combination with Scott-Morton’s framework on firm’s main elements, ten research hypotheses have been developed based on previous CC and management literature. They were tested using data collected through the e-Business W@tch Survey of the European Commission from 676 European firms from three traditional manufacturing sectors. Findings The results reveal three characteristics of a firm that affect positively its propensity to adopt CC for all firm sizes: the adoption of ICT investment reduction strategy, the adoption of product/service innovation strategy and the sophistication of firm’s administration support ICT infrastructure. Furthermore, they reveal four additional characteristics of a firm that affect positively the propensity for CC adoption only in the small firms: the adoption of process innovation strategy, the employment of ICT personnel, as well as the sophistication of firm’s production support and e-sales ICT infrastructures. Research limitations/implications First, this study provides a theoretical foundation for the elaboration of the organizational perspective of the TOE theory of technological innovation adoption, which opens a new stream of CC adoption factors research, investigating the effects of a wide range of firm’s characteristics on CC adoption. Second, based on the above foundation, this study enriches substantially the empirical literature on CC adoption factors. The main limitation of this study is that it has been based on data from only three European manufacturing sectors. Practical implications The findings provide new interesting insights concerning specific firm’s characteristics and therefore internal conditions that increase its propensity for CC adoption, and reveal specific kinds of strategy and ICT infrastructures for which CC is more appropriate and beneficial. Originality/value The authors have developed a theoretical foundation for extending our knowledge concerning the characteristics and internal conditions of firms that favor/promote the adoption of CC, which supports and enables the substantial extension of the existing knowledge base on CC adoption factors. Based on this theoretical foundation, the authors have formulated and tested ten research hypotheses concerning effects of firm’s strategic directions, processes, ICT infrastructures and ICT personnel, which have not been investigated previously, on CC adoption propensity.

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter T. Coleman ◽  
Katharina G. Kugler ◽  
Kyong Mazzaro ◽  
Christianna Gozzi ◽  
Nora El Zokm ◽  
...  

Purpose – Research on conflict mediation presents a scattered, piecemeal understanding of what determines mediators’ strategies and tactics and ultimately what constitutes successful mediation. This paper presents research on developing a unifying framework – the situated model of mediation – that identifies and integrates the most basic dimensions of mediation situations. These dimensions combine to determine differences in mediator’s strategies that in turn influence mediation processes and outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The approach used by this paper was twofold. First, the existing empirical literature was reviewed on factors that influence mediator’s behaviors. Based on the findings of this review, a survey study was conducted with experienced mediators to determine the most fundamental dimensions of mediation situations affecting mediators’ behaviors and mediation processes and outcomes. The data were analyzed through exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis. Findings – The results of the study show that four of the most fundamental dimensions of mediation situations include: low vs high intensity of the conflict, cooperative vs competitive relationship between the parties, tight vs flexible context and overt vs covert processes and issues. Each of these factors was found to independently predict differences in mediators’ behaviors and perceptions of processes and outcomes. These dimensions are then combined to constitute the basic dimensions of the situated model of mediation. Originality/value – The situated model of mediation is both heuristic and generative, and it shows how a minimal number of factors are sufficient to capture the complexity of conflict mediation in a wide range of contexts.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taufik Akbar ◽  
A.K. Siti-Nabiha

PurposeThis study investigates both internal and external stakeholders' views on the objectives and measures of performance of Indonesian Islamic microfinance banks (IMFBs).Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders of IMFBs in Indonesia. The primary stakeholders interviewed comprised the board of directors of IMFBs located in several provinces in Indonesia, including rural and urban areas. The external stakeholders were the regulators/supervisors, represented by the Indonesian Financial Services Authority and Sharīʿah advisors of the National Sharīʿah Board as well as Muslim scholars. The data were analysed using CAQDAS, a computer-assisted tool for qualitative analysis.FindingsThe objectives of the IMFBs are seen to represent more than profits or economic well-being. Their objectives also comprise spirituality and daʿwah (Islamic propagation). Daʿwah is conducted through the provision of funding and services that are aligned with Sharīʿah (Islamic law), the dissemination of information about Islamic financing, which is based on Islamic values and principles, and the payment of zakat (Islamic alms) and charitable contributions. The measures of performance are considered to be more holistic than those of conventional banks. Profit and growth are deemed important as the means to achieve social well-being objectives.Research limitations/implicationsBetter insights into the objectives and measures of IMFBs could be achieved from interviews with other stakeholder categories, such as customers and the community. This could be the focus of future research.Originality/valueThis study added a new discussion to the limited empirical literature on IMFBs by investigating the views of stakeholders on the objectives and performance of IMFBs in Indonesia.


Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liudmila Ivanovna Khoruzhy ◽  
Roman Petrovich Bulyga ◽  
Olga Yuryevna Voronkova ◽  
Lidia Vladimirovna Vasyutkina ◽  
Natalya Ryafikovna Saenko ◽  
...  

PurposeNowadays, cloud platforms are used in many fields, including e-commerce, web applications, data storage, healthcare, gaming, mobile social networks, etc. However, security and privacy are still two significant concerns in this area. The target of this paper is to present a system for trust management in industrial cloud computing using the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach. MCDM techniques have been developed to accommodate a wide range of applications. As a result, hundreds of approaches have been generated with even minor variations on current approaches spawning new study fields.Design/methodology/approachCloud computing provides a fully scalable, accessible and flexible computing platform for various applications. Due to the multiple applications that cloud computing has found in numerous life features, users and providers have considered providing security in cloud communications. Due to its distributive nature, dynamic space and lack of transparency in performing cloud computing, it faces many challenges in providing security. For security improvement, trust management can play a very influential role. This paper proposes a generic analytical methodology that uses a series of assessment criteria to evaluate current trust management testing prototypes in industrial cloud computing and related fields. The authors utilize a MCDM approach in the present article. Due to the multi-dimensionality of the sustainability objective and the complexities of socio-economic and biophysical processes, MCDM approaches have become progressively common in decision-making for sustainable energy.FindingsThe results of comparing and evaluating the performance of this model show its ability to manage trust and the ability to adapt to changes in the behavior of service providers quickly. Using a simulation, all results are confirmed. The results of simulations and evaluation of the present paper indicate that the proposed model provides a more accurate evaluation of the credibility of cloud service providers than other models.Practical implicationsThe number of cloud services and customers is vast and extremely competitive in cloud environments, where novel cloud services and customers can join at any time, while others can withdraw whenever they want. Because of cloud services' highly dynamic and dispersed design, trust management mechanisms must be highly flexible to obtain feedback and update trust outcomes as quickly as possible. The model presented in this article tries to improve users' trust in the cloud industry.Originality/valueUsing a method (MCDM) to find the best trust management solution based on user experience in industrial cloud computing is the novelty of this paper.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 727-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Greenland ◽  
Elizabeth Levin ◽  
John F. Dalrymple ◽  
Barry O’Mahony

Purpose This paper aims to examine impediments to the adoption of sustainable water-efficient technological innovation in agriculture. Farming is the largest water consumer and food production expansion in response to global population growth, combined with increasing droughts from climate change, threatens water and food insecurity for many countries. Yet, climate smart agriculture (CSA) innovation adoption has been slow, and in this regard, governments and the agricultural sector are not fulfilling their social responsibility and sustainability obligations. Design/methodology/approach Barriers to water-efficient drip irrigation (DI) adoption in Australia were investigated via 46 depth interviews with agricultural stakeholders and a survey of 148 farmers. Findings While DI water efficiency is recognised, this is not the key determinant of farmers’ irrigation method selection. Complex interrelationships between internal and external barriers impede DI adoption are identified. These include costs, satisfaction with alternative irrigation methods, farmer characteristics that determine the suitability of the innovation and the extent it is incremental or radical, plus various multidimensional risks. Government support of alternative, less water-efficient irrigation methods is also a critical barrier. Originality/value A conceptual framework for understanding barriers to sustainability oriented innovation adoption is presented. Its insights should be applicable to researchers and practitioners concerned with understanding and improving the adoption of socially responsible and sustainable innovation in a wide range of contexts. Recommendations for overcoming such adoption barriers are discussed in relation to the research focus of water-efficient agriculture and encouraging uptake of DI.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Troncoso Baltar ◽  
Celio Hiratuka ◽  
Gilberto Tadeu Lima

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of the real exchange rate on investment in the Brazilian manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach – The authors develop an investment model that considers the effect of changes in the real exchange rate, taking into account that the effect of the real exchange rate on the Brazilian manufacturing investment operates through demand and cost channels. The composition of these effects varies across manufacturing sectors, with different repercussions on investment decisions, depending on sectoral characteristics. A panel data analysis is applied to estimate the model for the Brazilian manufacturing sectors from 1996 to 2010. Findings – One main result is that the responsiveness of the Brazilian manufacturing investment to real exchange rate varies considerably across manufacturing sectors. Overall, the results contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between exchange rate dynamics, manufacturing investment and industrial development, thus unveiling important empirical elements for the debate on industrial policies to stimulate manufacturing investment and production. Originality/value – As the (scant) empirical literature on real exchange rate and investment in Brazil has invariably been using aggregate data, this paper contributes to the literature by obtaining sectoral estimates of the responsiveness of manufacturing investment to exchange rate fluctuations that further the understanding of the complex relationship between these economic variables.


2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 19-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayank Yuvaraj

Purpose – The present paper is an attempt to describe in detail the concept of Cloud computing in conjunction with libraries. It describes in detail about Cloud libraries, transition of libraries toward Cloud, its need, features, Cloud library components, types of Cloud libraries, Cloud library infrastructure, key players as well as role of Cloud librarians. Design/methodology/approach – Based on an extensive literature survey, the basic conceptions of Cloud libraries were developed. Findings – Various concepts of Cloud libraries have been proposed in the literature that will be instrumental in understanding the theoretical foundations of Cloud libraries. Originality/value – Till date no any theoretical foundation exists on the concept of Cloud libraries. The paper is one of the first attempts to give shape to the libraries based on Cloud computing platform.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ratten

Purpose – This paper aims to cross-culturally compare how consumers in China and Australia adopt cloud computing services. Cloud computing is one of the major innovation advances in information technology. In order for more consumers to adopt cloud computing as a technological innovation, there needs to be a better understanding of the issues involved in consumer adoption processes for online retailers. While there is an increasing amount of interest in cloud computing as a technological innovation, there is an important need to examine the reasons why consumers purchase cloud computing services for online retailers. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the technology acceptance model and social cognitive theory are identified as the theoretical frameworks to understand the consumer purchase intention of cloud computing services. A set of research hypotheses are stated from both theoretical frameworks to test their relationship with a consumer’s intention to adopt cloud computing as a technological innovation. These hypotheses focus on perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, online behavioural advertising knowledge, social networks and online privacy concerns, which will help online retailers understand how cloud computing can be utilized by consumers to store and access online retail information. Findings – The findings of the study outline the different areas of technological innovation research that are needed to advance the information technology industry in the future. The findings suggest that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and online privacy concerns can determine a consumer’s intention to adopt cloud computing, but online behavioural advertising knowledge and social networks differ among consumers in different countries. Originality/value – The key issues influencing consumer adoption of cloud computing are outlined, which due to the emerging nature of this technological innovation will influence the regulation and marketing of cloud computing services by firms and governments in the technology sector.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waheed Ali ◽  
Wen Jun ◽  
Hadi Hussain ◽  
Nadeem Akhtar Khan ◽  
Muhammad Waleed Younas ◽  
...  

PurposeIn the era of knowledge economy, the significance of intellectual capital has been increasing globally. Similarly, recent studies have focused on the importance of green intellectual capital in mitigating environmental degradation. However, only a few studies have analysed green intellectual capital and its impacts in the specific case of Pakistan. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of green intellectual capital on green innovation adoption in Pakistan’s manufacturing small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachWe used a data sample of 235 SMEs, gathered from the four manufacturing sectors of Pakistan including: textile, chemical, pharmaceutical and steel and analysed using a multiple regression analysis approach.FindingsThe empirical results of this research indicate that green human capital and green structural capital significantly increase green innovation adoption. However, it must be noted that green relational capital has a positive but insignificant impact on green innovation adoption in manufacturing SMEs in Pakistan.Originality/valueThe findings and recommended policy measures of this study are important for the managers of manufacturing SMEs and policymakers to mitigate environmental destruction and achieve sustainable development through green intellectual capital.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ogan M. Yigitbasioglu

Purpose – While many studies have predominantly looked at the benefits and risks of cloud computing, little is known whether and to what extent institutional forces play a role in cloud computing adoption. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of institutional factors in top management team’s (TMT’s) decision to adopt cloud computing services. Design/methodology/approach – A model is developed and tested with data from an Australian survey using the partial least squares modeling technique. Findings – The results suggest that mimetic and coercive pressures influence TMT’s beliefs in the benefits of cloud computing. The results also show that TMT’s beliefs drive TMT’s participation, which in turn affects the intention to increase the adoption of cloud computing solutions. Research limitations/implications – Future studies could incorporate the influences of local actors who might also press for innovation. Practical implications – Given the influence of institutional forces and the plethora of cloud-based solutions on the market, it is recommended that TMTs exercise a high degree of caution when deciding for the types of applications to be outsourced as organizational requirements in terms of performance and security will differ. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the growing empirical literature on cloud computing adoption and offers the institutional framework as an alternative lens with which to interpret cloud-based information technology outsourcing.


Author(s):  
Ramandeep Kaur ◽  
Navpreet Kaur

The cloud computing can be essentially expressed as aconveyance of computing condition where distinctive assets are conveyed as a support of the client or different occupants over the web. The task scheduling basically concentrates on improving the productive use of assets and henceforth decrease in task fruition time. Task scheduling is utilized to allot certain tasks to specific assets at a specific time occurrence. A wide range of systems has been exhibited to take care of the issues of scheduling of various tasks. Task scheduling enhances the productive use of asset and yields less reaction time with the goal that the execution of submitted tasks happens inside a conceivable least time. This paper talks about the investigation of need, length and due date based task scheduling calculations utilized as a part of cloud computing.


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