Barriers to continuance use of cloud computing: Evidence from two case studies

• Published in: Information & management Vol. 60; no. 5; p. 103792
• Main Authors: Muhic, Mirella, Bengtsson, Lars, Holmström, Jonny
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Barriers; Cloud computing; Cloud sourcing; Computer Systems; Continuance use of cloud computing; Datorsystem; Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering; Elektroteknik och elektronik; Engineering and Technology; IT outsourcing; Teknik; TOE; Cloud sourcing; Cloud computing; TOE; IT outsourcing; Barriers; Continuance use of cloud computing
• ISSN: 0378-7206; 1872-7530; 1872-7530
• DOI: 10.1016/j.im.2023.103792

•Key to unlocking the full innovation potential of cloud sourcing & cloud computing with our groundbreaking study.•Cloud sourcing benefits are challenging to reap continuously.•Two case studies identify new barriers: lack of objectives/strategies, and communication with cloud vendor.•Overcoming management process barriers guides strategic cloud computing enables cloud-related digital innovation.•Study extends TOE framework to include management process barriers (TOMPE). Continuous use of cloud computing and cloud sourcing has received limited research attention compared to cloud adoption. There are indications that cloud sourcing benefits are not easy to reap in continuous use for companies, calling for more research on the continuance use of cloud computing. The current study is one of the first studies of the continuance use of cloud computing processes at the organizational level, contributing to the management and business research literature on cloud computing. In particular, the present study has contributed with two case studies verifying the existence of barriers and more importantly identifying an additional type of barrier: management process barriers (MP), i.e., lack of objectives and strategies for cloud sourcing and lack of organizing cloud vendor communication. Overcoming or reducing management process barriers guides the continuance use of cloud computing process in a strategic direction for the company and enables cloud-related innovation. As a contribution, our research builds on and extends extant research by providing a TOMPE framework of barriers to the continuance use of cloud computing (based and modified from the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework, by complementing it with the identified management process barriers).