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Investigating the Factors Affecting the Adoption of Cloud Computing in SMEs: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia

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Information Systems (EMCIS 2018)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ((LNBIP,volume 341))

Abstract

Cloud computing technology offers promising business advantages for small and medium-sized enterprises. In Saudi Arabia, the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs has so far occurred relatively slowly. This study investigates the factors affecting the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs in Saudi Arabia. A sample of fourteen interviews conducted with IT experts provides a foundation for exploring new factors that affect this decision, as incorporated into a conceptual model developed for this study. This model draws on the Technology-Organisation-Environment framework but adjusted based on new contextual factors. Factors such as the duration of software implementation, software integration, and software customisation guided this study. Furthermore, experts were of the view that other factors such as culture and technology infrastructure also impacted the adoption of cloud computing among SMEs. This study bridges the gap in the literature on cloud computing adoption with new evidence from the unexplored context of Saudi Arabia.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Fahad Alghamdi & Dharmendra Sharma

  2. Faculty of Business, Government, and Law, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Milind Sathye

Authors
  1. Fahad Alghamdi
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  2. Dharmendra Sharma
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  3. Milind Sathye
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fahad Alghamdi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Marinos Themistocleous

  2. University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Paulo Rupino da Cunha

Appendix: Interview Questions

Appendix: Interview Questions

Section 1: Interview background

  1. 1.

    Can you tell us about yourself?

    Prompts:

    1. a.

      How old are you?

    2. b.

      How much working experiences do you have in IT field?

    3. c.

      what is your education level?

Section 2: Background information and services provided by the firm to SMEs in Saudi Arabia

  1. 1.

    Can you tell us about your firm?

    Prompts:

    1. a.

      when did your frim established?

    2. b.

      What is your firm type of client based?

    3. c.

      What is the number of employees in your firm?

  2. 2.

    Can you describe the current situation of the cloud computing market in Saudi Arabia? prompts: what do you expect in the future in regard to this matter?

  3. 3.

    How do you describe the capability of the services you provide to enhance and develop SMEs?

  4. 4.

    What are the cloud products/services offered by your organisation to SMEs and why?

  5. 5.

    As a cloud services provider, could you describe the advantages gained by SMEs if they adopt cloud services?

Section 3: Factors affecting the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs (based on TOE)

In this section, questions will be divided into three categories: technology factors, organisational factors, environmental factors.

First: technological factors

  1. 6.

    What do you think about technology factors that affect the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs in Saudi Arabia?

  2. 7.

    Could you describe in detail the impact of each of the following factors on the SMEs’ decision to adopt cloud computing?

    1. a.

      The cost reduction that the firm may achieve by using cloud services compared to the traditional IT model.

    2. b.

      The capability of cloud services to facilitate a flexible complementation, interaction, synchronisation and exchange of data with existing applications in the firm.

    3. c.

      The availability of cloud services that meet specific functional requirements needs of the firm.

    4. d.

      The duration between the implementation of cloud services and the benefiting of these services by the firm.

    5. e.

      The security measures utilised by the firm.

    6. f.

      The ability to smoothly utilise the implemented cloud services by the firm’s staff.

      Prompts: are there any trial run before full implementation?

  3. 8.

    Are there any additional factors besides the ones discussed earlier that you would like to add?

    Second: organisational factors

  4. 9.

    In your opinion, what are the most important internal organizational factors that affect the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs in Saudi Arabia?

  5. 10.

    How do you describe the effect of the following factors on the decision of SMEs to adopt cloud computing?

    Prompts:

    1. a.

      Top management support of cloud services?

    2. b.

      Size of firm?

    3. c.

      Technological resources that the firm has in relation to cloud services?

  6. 11.

    Are there any additional factors besides the ones discussed earlier that you would like to add?

    Third: environmental factors

  7. 12.

    In your opinion, what are the most environmental factors that affect the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs in Saudi Arabia?

  8. 13.

    How do you describe the effect of the following factors on the decision of SMEs to adopt cloud computing?

    Prompts:

    1. a.

      The pressure faced by the firm due to competition in the market.

    2. b.

      The government cloud regulations and policies.

    3. c.

      The reputation of cloud services providers.

  9. 14.

    Are there any additional factors besides the ones discussed earlier that you would like to add?

  10. 15.

    Please feel free to discuss any other issues, concerns or opinions pertaining to this subject.

Thank you for your time.

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Alghamdi, F., Sharma, D., Sathye, M. (2019). Investigating the Factors Affecting the Adoption of Cloud Computing in SMEs: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia. In: Themistocleous, M., Rupino da Cunha, P. (eds) Information Systems. EMCIS 2018. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 341. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11395-7_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11395-7_15

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-11395-7

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