Abstract
Several significantly different attempts have been undertaken to visualize the complex and opaque cloud computing ecosystem by a descriptive model. Recently, scholars have developed a new role-based cloud ecosystem model (Passau Cloud Computing Ecosystem Model (PaCE model)) based on a systematic analysis and synthesis of the previous models. However, its scientific evaluation is still outstanding. The main goal is therefore to conduct an evaluation regarding its structural equivalence and completeness compared to the real cloud business according to the design science research paradigm. The second goal is to demonstrate the model’s usefulness by using it as an instrument for the identification of role clusters, which are frequently covered by organizations. To this end, a cross-sectional analysis is conducted, in which 758 organizations are manually analysed and matched with the model’s current roles. As a result, roles have been newly added, removed, broken down into sub-roles, abstracted to a meta-role and renamed. The cluster analysis unveiled five role clusters. Whereas some roles were predominantly found as single role, further roles were exclusively or very frequently found in combination with others. Overall, the revised model creates, compared to the common rather technically orientated market overviews by market research institutes, a detailed categorization schema helping to understand and investigate the organizations belonging to the cloud ecosystem.
Highlights
With the growth of cloud computing both incumbent IT service providers and start-up companies were given the opportunity to take up new roles in this emerging market (Hogan et al 2011; Leimeister et al 2010)
This paper aims to address this shortcoming by demonstrating the applicability and the practical use of ecosystem models in the area of the cloud computing
In the PaCE model subroles were abstracted to a meta-role, and vice versa, when there were despite clear differences central common elements with respect to the value propositions and the implemented business model
Summary
With the growth of cloud computing both incumbent IT service providers and start-up companies were given the opportunity to take up new roles in this emerging market (Hogan et al 2011; Leimeister et al 2010). Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) (Marston et al 2011; Mell and Grance 2011). Building upon these three consecutive and interrelated layers, a multitude of further roles, such as aggregators, integrators and market place operators, has evolved (Floerecke and Lehner 2015; Keller and König 2014). In the case of multiple roles an organization covers a so-called role cluster (Pelzl et al 2013)
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