Share:


Determinants of cloud computing adoption by Romanian SMEs in the digital economy

    Violeta Mihaela Dincă   Affiliation
    ; Alina Mihaela Dima   Affiliation
    ; Zoltán Rozsa   Affiliation

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the process of Cloud Computing adoption within Romanian Small and Medium sized Enterprises in the digital age. Most of the scientific papers related to this topic examine the general outlook of cloud computing implementation in Romania and focus on the use of the afore-mentioned technologies by large scale companies. In order to identify the factors that have an influence over the choice of Romanian SMEs to adopt cloud computing technology, a conceptual model has been set forth. The model’s dependent variable is the choice of the company’s management to implement cloud computing technologies. Five different independent types of variable structures which have an effect on the adoption of cloud computing within SMEs were identified. The five categories of variables are competition & government, ICT providers & firm departments, employee, manager and technological factors. Each of these categories of determinants encompasses at their turn two or more constructs.


An online survey tested the model based on the responses of managers and directors from 198 Romanian SMEs from the cities of Bucharest and Cluj. The validity of the model was performed by completing factor analysis and reliability tests of the data; a logistic regression analysis was deployed to test the research hypotheses. The results emphasized that the managers’ know-how on cloud computing and the perceived costs of implementing the technology represent the main components influencing the spreading of cloud computing among Romanian SMEs. This study makes a valuable contribution to the academic environment but to businesses as well. The model can be used to examine the implementation of different innovative applications. Companies which offer cloud computing services could take advantage of the outcomes of this study to expand the degree of cloud service introduction among SMEs.

Keyword : cloud computing, Romanian SMEs, theoretical model, technology adoption, quantitative study

How to Cite
Dincă, V. M., Dima, A. M., & Rozsa, Z. (2019). Determinants of cloud computing adoption by Romanian SMEs in the digital economy. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 20(4), 798-820. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2019.9856
Published in Issue
Jun 20, 2019
Abstract Views
3853
PDF Downloads
2784
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Alshamaila, Y., Papagiannidis, S., & Li, F. (2013). Cloud computing adoption by SMEs in the north east of England: A multi‐perspective framework. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 26(3), 250-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410391311325225

Balcerzak, A. P., & Pietrzak, M. B. (2017). Digital economy in Visegrad countries. Multiple-criteria decision analysis at regional level in the years 2012 and 2015. Journal of Competitiveness, 9(2), 5-18. Retrieved from https://www.cjournal.cz/files/246.pdf

Blaikie, N. (2009). Designing social research (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Polity Press.

Buchaelcevova, A., & Gala, L. (2012). Green ICT adoption survey focused on ICT life-cycle from the consumer’s perspective (SMEs). Journal of Competitiveness, 4(4), 109-122. https://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2012.04.08

Buyya, R., Yeo, C. S., Venugopal, S., Broberg, J., & Brandic, I. (2009). Cloud computing and emerging IT platforms: vision, hype, and reality for delivering computing as the 5th utility. Future Generation Computer Systems, 25(6), 599-616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2008.12.001

Cepel, M., Stasiukynas, A, Kotaskova, A., & Dvorsky, J. (2018). Business environment quality index in the SME segment. Journal of Competitiveness, 10(1), 21-40. https://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2018.02.02

Choi, H., Kim, S. H., & Lee, J. (2010). Role of network structure and network effects in diffusion of innovations. Industrial Marketing Management, 39(1), 170-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2008.08.006

Dobeš, K., Kot, S., Kramoliš, J., & Sopková, G. (2017). The perception of governmental support in the context of competitiveness of SMEs in the Czech Republic. Journal of Competitiveness, 9(3), 34-50. https://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2017.03.03

Engle, R., & McFadden, D. L. (1994). Handbook of econometrics, 4. Amsterdam: North Holland.

European Commission. (2016). 2016 SBA fact sheet. Working paper. European Commission. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/jrcsh/files/eu28_sba_fact_sheet.pdf

Foerster-Pastor, U. S., & Golowko, N. (2018). The need for digital and soft skills in the Romanian business service industry. Management & Marketing. Challenges for the Knowledge Society, 13(1), 831-847. https://doi.org/10.2478/mmcks-2018-0008

Fonseca, L. M., & Domingues, J. P. (2017). How to succeed in the digital age? Monitor the organizational context, identify risks and opportunities, and manage change effectively. Management & Marketing. Challenges for the Knowledge Society, 12(3), 443-455. https://doi.org/10.1515/mmcks-2017-0027

Greavu-Șerban, V. (2015). Cloud computing: Caracteristici și modele. Bucharest: ASE Publishing House.

Gupta, P., Seetharaman, A., & Raj, J. R. (2013). The usage and adoption of cloud computing by small and medium businesses. International Journal of Information Management, 33, 861-874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2013.07.001

Hadad, S. (2017). Strategies for developing knowledge economy in Romania. Management & Marketing, Challenges for the Knowledge Society, 12(3), 416-430. https://doi.org/10.1515/mmcks-2017-0025

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). London: Pearson.

Henderson, J., & Weiler, S. (2010). Entrepreneurs and job growth: probing the boundaries of time and space. Economic Development Quarterly, 24(1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242409350917

Jain, V. (2011). How the cloud resonates with business today. Siliconindia 14(10), 22-23.

Kallier, S. M. (2017). The focus on marketing communication efforts of SMEs. Management & Marketing. Challenges for the Knowledge Society, 12(1), 140-154. https://doi.org/10.1515/mmcks-2017-0009

Mell, P., & Grance, T. (2011). The NIST definition of cloud computing (Technical report 800-145). National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Microsoft. (2017). Cutting costs in the cloud with Skype for Business. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/itshowcase/Article/Content/944/Cutting-costs-in-the-cloud-with-Skype-for-Businessand-Office-365

Ministry of Communications and Informational Society. (2018). Governmental cloud, a benefice for institutions. Retrieved from https://www.comunicatii.gov.ro/cloud-ul-guvernamental-un-beneficiupentru-institutii/

Nistoreanu, P., Dinca, V. M., & Schiopu, A. F. (2017). Competition policy in the European film industry focused on consumers’ interests – a Romanian perspective. Amfiteatru Economic, 19(45), 397-413.

Plummer, D. C., Bittman, J., Austin, T., Cearley, D. W., & Smith, D. W. (2008). Cloud computing: Defining and describing an emerging phenomenon (Technical report No. G00156220). Gartner.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). USA: Free Press.

Sasikala, P. (2011). Cloud computing: present status and future implications. International Journal of Cloud Computing, 1(1), 23-36. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJCC.2011.043244

Smith, D., Cearley, D., & Plummer, D. (2009). Key issues for cloud computing. Stamford, Connecticut: Gartner.

Stevenson, A. (2015). Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.). Oxford: University Press.

Sultan, N. A. (2011). Reaching for the cloud: how SMEs can manage. International Journal of Information Management, 31, 272-278. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJCC.2011.043244

Tornatzky, L. G., & Fleischer, M. (1990). The processes of technological innovation. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books.

Tvrdikova, M. (2013). Increasing the business potential of companies by ensuring continuity of the development of their information systems by current information technologies. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 17(3), 475-489. https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2013.839475

Yoo, W., Mayberry, R., Bae, S., Singh, K., He, Q., & Lillard, Jr. J. W. (2014). A study of effects of multicollinearity in the multivariable analysis. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 4(5), 9-19.

Zell, S., & Swanson, B. (2017). How cloud computing enables modern manufacturing. Retrieved from http://www2.itif.org/2017-cloud-computing-enables-manufacturing.pdf