posted on 2023-08-30, 14:51authored byVivian C. Oyemike
Cloud computing technology offers flexible, pay-per-use and convenient access to a pool of services and virtualised computer resources using internet connection. Despite these benefits, the adoption of cloud computing by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is still slow due to (perceived) security and privacy issues. Recent studies concluded that such issues could result in issues of trust for both adopters and potential adopters of cloud computing. While security and privacy issues are actively being researched in the area of cloud computing, there is little published research regarding the aspect of trust between the clients (SMEs) and their Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). The main focus of this study was to investigate the role of trust and other factors involved in the adoption and usage of cloud computing by SMEs. By combining the variables introduced by Diffusion of Innovation Theory (Rogers, 2003), Technology Organisation Environment Framework (Tornatzky and Fleishchner, 1990) and the Integrative Model of Organisational Trust (Mayer, et al., 1995), a conceptual model was produced. This model was tested empirically through an online survey of 269 participants consisting UK SMEs. Using the statistical software ‘SPSS’, the description of each variable was presented.
The reliability of multi scale items was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Factor analysis was carried out to reduce the dimensions of items used for further analysis (regression). Then an ordinal regression analysis was done to examine the relationship between variables. It was found that an increase in the challenges of cloud computing decreases its chances of adoption. Also, an increase in the knowledge level of cloud computing was found to increase the chances of adopting cloud computing. On the other hand, trust in service provider was found to have a negative effect on the perceived usefulness of cloud computing. This is because majority of the respondents revealed that cloud computing is very useful but indicated total disagreement of trust in their CSPs. This is not an attractive finding for the CSPs. Therefore, the recommendations provided will enable to CSPs to increase trust in order to encourage the continuous use of cloud computing by adopters and also encourage the uptake of cloud computing by potential adopters.