Title: Factors affecting the adoption of cloud computing in small and medium enterprises

Authors: Fariba Safari; Narges Safari; Alireza Hasanzadeh; Ali Rajabzadeh Ghatari

Addresses: Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalale Alahmad Avenue, P.O. Box 14155-111, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Information Technology Management, Sistan and Baluchestan University, University Headquarters, Daneshgah Ave, Zahedan, P.O. Box 98155-987, Iran ' Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Jalale Alahmad Avenue, P.O. Box 14155-111, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Jalale Alahmad Avenue, P.O. Box 14155-111, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: In spite of cloud advantages for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to reduce their costs and improve their performance, they have not utilised it at the desired level. Therefore, this study seeks to provide a model for the adoption of cloud computing in SMEs based on technology, organisation, and environment (TOE) framework along with individual characteristics. The results show that relative advantage and compatibility in technological context, sensitivity of data and supporting infrastructure in organisational context, vendor support, competitive pressure and government support in environmental context, CEO trust, and CEO cloud knowledge in CEO characteristics are significant factors in cloud adoption. However, complexity and CEO innovativeness are not influential determinants. In addition, five top prioritised factors for moving to cloud are relative advantage, vendor support, competitive pressure, CEO trust, and CEO knowledge. This study is not only useful for SMEs in their adoption decision but also for researches in this subject.

Keywords: cloud computing adoption; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; technology organisation environment; TOE framework; relative advantage; compatibility; data sensitivity; supporting infrastructure; vendor support; competitive pressure; government support; CEO trust; CEO knowledge; complexity; CEO innovativeness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2015.070894

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2015 Vol.20 No.1, pp.116 - 137

Received: 24 Jun 2014
Accepted: 29 Jun 2014
Published online: 31 Jul 2015 *

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