Chapter 5 Quantitative findings and analysis
5.3. Quantitative findings and analysis for the main study
5.3.4. Factors influencing the adoption and usage of cloud computing
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skills to use a specific technology. Matuszak and Lamoureux (2013) explained that respondents might have not realised the required need for transformation, which should have made them realise that these above-mentioned variables were benefits in their organisations.
5.3.3.9. General comments and summary
This section discussed aspects related to benefits in cloud computing. To answer this question, a list of benefits was designed from the most cited to the least cited benefits in cloud computing. The benefits were analysed separately to ensure that a conclusive view on these benefits was provided in order to relate to arguments discussed in the literature.
The findings indicated that only the following were perceived to be important benefits in cloud computing: cost-efficiency, lower-implementation, scalability, saving time and cost, sustainability, customisation, as well as virtualisation. These findings were supported in the literature review.
Arguments presented by Cowhey and Kleeman (2013), Youssef (2012), Erol et al. (2012), Avram (2014), and Zalbaza et al. (2012) support the findings on these benefits by organisations that adopted cloud computing.
The research findings also indicated that the following variables were not perceived as important benefits by respondents: Agility, higher performance, higher reliability and availability, better IT resources, improved security, flexibility, rapid development, great mobility, improved automation, and Green IT.
These findings were not supported in the literature review. Though the discussion by Carroll et al. (2011), Youssef (2012), and Avram (2014) indicated that these variables were important benefits in cloud computing, the research findings indicated that respondents in Gauteng did not perceive them as benefits.
Awa et al. (2012) and Matuszak and Lamoureux (2013) suggested reasons why respondents might have not perceived these variables as important benefits in cloud computing. They explained that aspects related to awareness, technology know-how, technological needs, as well as competency might be contributing factors for not being able to identify these variables as benefits.
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The following figure shows the responses of respondents on the influencing factors in cloud computing adoption and usage:
Figure 5.12: Influencing factors in the adoption and usage of cloud computing
5.3.4.1. Improved service level management as an influencing factor in cloud computing
Buyya et al. (2011) described improved service level management in cloud computing as a set of parameters required by both the consumers and service providers to highlight issues of service quality and request, including feedback mechanisms in order to encourage or discourage request submissions.The research findings indicated that 64.3 % of users consider improved service level agreement as a highly influential factor in cloud computing adoption and usage as compared to 7.1% of users who consider the factor to be influential. In order to ascertain whether any of the response options was selected significantly more/less than others, the Chi-Square goodness-of-fit-test was used. The results show that a significant number of respondents indicated that improved service level agreement was an important influential factor in the adoption and usage of cloud computing (χ2 (3, N=12) = 68.400, p=.005). These findings were supported in section of the literature review. Mohammed et al. (2012) reported extensively about the perceptions of organisations with regard to SLAs in cloud computing, and the simplification of complex issues in the provision of service between users and service providers.
5.3.4.2. Cost-efficiency as an influential factor in cloud computing
Cowhey and Kleeman (2013) argued that cost-efficiency played an important role in saving cost on expenditure when it comes to maintenance and deployment of organisational IT resources. They also reported that cost-efficiency has proven to bring a massive return on investment. The findings indicated
0 20 40 60 80 100
6.7 13.3
3.3 13.3 26.7
13.3 20.0
10.0 10.0
40.0 26.7
23.3 90.0 86.7 33.3
46.7 40.0
63.3 33.3
Percentage
Not influential Somewhat influential Highly influential Highly influential
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that 86.7% of users consider cost-efficiency as a highly influential factor in the adoption and usage of cloud computing, 10.0% of users consider the factor as influential, and 3.3% of users consider the factor as somewhat influential in the adopting and usage of cloud computing. In order to ascertain whether any of the response options was selected significantly more/less than others, the Chi-Square goodness-of-fit- test was used. The results show that a significant number of users indicated that cost-efficiency was an important influential factor in the adoption and usage of cloud computing (χ2 (3, N=30) = 61.476, p=.005).
These findings were discussed in the literature review. Cowhey and Kleeman (2013) and Low et al. (2011) reported extensively about cost-efficiency and its influence in the adoption and usage of cloud computing.
Avram (2014) described cost-efficiency as instrumental and considerably influential by SMEs in their positioning as global market players.
5.3.4.3. Standard-based security as an influential factor in cloud computing
Youssef (2012) explained that standard-based security provided capabilities to tailor security issues based on users’ requirements in cloud computing. The research findings indicated that 46.7% of users consider this factor as highly influential in cloud computing, 40.0% of users consider the factor to be influential, and 13.3% of users consider the factor to be somewhat influential in cloud computing. In order to ascertain whether any of the response options was selected significantly more/less than others, the Chi- Square goodness-of-fit-test was used. The results show that a significant number of users indicated that standard-based security was an important influential factor in the adoption and usage of cloud computing (χ2 (3, N=30) = 17.467, p=.005). These findings were discussed in section of the literature review. Chang et al. (2016) reported extensively on the standard-based security as an influential factor in cloud computing. They indicated that though many users were more concerned about the risks associated with security, a standard-based security simplified complex security mechanisms and schemes in cloud computing.
5.3.4.4. Improved performance as an influential factor in cloud computing
Buyya et al. (2011) explained that improved performance in cloud computing speeds up the availability and usage of IT resources in the cloud. The findings indicated that 63.3% of users consider improved performance as a highly influential factor in cloud computing, 23.3% of users consider the factor to be influential, and 13.3% of users consider the factor to be somewhat influential in cloud computing. In order to ascertain whether any of the response options was selected significantly more/less than others, the Chi-Square goodness-of-fit-test was used. The results showed that a significant number of users indicated that improved performance was an important influential factor in the adoption and usage of cloud computing (χ2 (3, N=30) = 26.800, p=.005). These findings were discussed in the literature review.
Sravani and Nivedita (2013) reported extensively in the literature review on the improved performance
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as an important influential factor in cloud computing. Sravani and Nivedita (2013) also reported that improved performance in cloud computing was not only an influential factor but also an important characteristic.
5.3.4.5. No lock-in terms, better accountability and auditability as influential factors in cloud computing
Although the above-mentioned factors were discussed in this literature as influential factors in cloud computing, the research findings of this study indicated that users did not consider them as influential.
The findings indicated that there was no significant difference in the perceptions of users on these factors as influential in their decision to adopt or use cloud computing. Tables representing the findings of the above-mentioned factors are presented in appendix 1. The research findings indicated that there was not a significant number of users that indicated that no lock-in terms was an influential factor in cloud computing (χ2 (3, N=30) = 6.800, p>.005). The findings also indicated that there was not a significant number of users that indicated that better accountability and auditability were influential factors in cloud computing (χ2 (3, N=30) = 3.600, p>.005). These findings were not supported in this study.
As discussed in section of the literature review, Carroll et al. (2011) and Youssef (2012) reported extensively about these influential factors in cloud computing adoption and usage. Some of the reasons attributed to users for not being in a position to identify no lock-in terms, better accountability, and auditability as influential factors could be related to awareness issues as argued by Awa et al. (2012).
They explained that issues around competency, technology know-how, as well as IT required skills to use a specific technology could have contributed to the users not being able to identify these factors as influential in cloud computing.
5.3.4.6. General comments and summary
This section assessed the perceptions of users on the influential factors in the decision to adopt and use cloud computing technology. Carroll et al. (2011) and Youssef (2012) identified a number of influential factors in cloud computing, namely, improved service level management, cost-efficiency, standard-based security, improved performance, better accountability and auditability, as well as no lock-in terms. The influential factors were categorized in the literature from the most cited to the least.
The research findings indicated that the following were important influential factors in cloud computing:
improved service level management, cost-efficiency, standard-based security, as well as improved performance. The Chi-Square goodness-of-fit-test was used to ascertain the response options of the most selected factors by users. These findings were discussed in the literature review. The research findings also indicated that lock-in terms, better accountability, as well as auditability were not perceived as
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influential factors in cloud computing. The research findings indicated that there was not a significant difference in the perceptions of users on these factors as influential in their decision to adopt or use cloud computing. These findings were not supported in this study. Awa et al. (2012) reported on some of the reasons that might have contributed to users not being able to identify lock-in terms, better accountability, as well as auditability as influential factors in cloud computing. They reported about issues associated with awareness of technology, competency level, and IT required skills, as well as technology know-how as contributing factors in the lack of identification of the variables as influential factors in cloud computing.