Assessment of the status and factors influencing the adoption of cloud computing in knowledge-based companies Case Study: Kerman Science and Technology Park

Abstract

Cloud computing is one of the most important topics in knowledge-based companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises with a low budget and few human resources are one of the major groups tending to use cloud computing to benefit from this technology. Several components affect the adoption of cloud in these companies, which should be evaluated before making the decision. This study aimed to identify these components and determine how much each component impacts the adoption of cloud in small and medium-sized companies. Accordingly, based on the diffusion of innovation theory and technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework as well as the previous studies, a conceptual model with twelve components was presented. Data were collected via a questionnaire using the descriptive survey method from 59 knowledge-based companies of Kerman Science and Technology Park. In this study, the “need” factor was selected as the desired state and “use” as the current state; then, the mean of the other components was compared with the mean of these two factors. The results of this study showed that based on the gap between the desired state and the current state, the employees’ knowledge of cloud computing, compatibility, complexity, and security and privacy require more attention. Innovation factors, decision makers’ knowledge of cloud computing, benefits, and costs have a better position than other components. Finally, factors effective in the compliance of knowledge-based companies of Kerman Science and Technology Park with cloud computing were ranked using the Vikor method. The need factor (information need), decision makers’ innovation, and benefits were ranked first to third, respectively, and the complexity factor was ranked last among the indicators. Therefore, identifying the current state (not using cloud computing based on the needs or not matching with cloud) and the desired state (using cloud computing based on the needs or matching with the cloud) in knowledge-based companies, based on the criteria or factors whose usefulness was investigated in this study, can be an important step in joining these companies into the cloud, and thus bringing the benefits of this new technology to knowledge-based companies.

Keywords

• cloud computing
• small and medium-sized enterprises
• knowledge-based companies
• kerman science and technology park