Empirical Analysis for the Factors Affecting the Adoption of Cloud Computing Initiatives by Information Technology Executives

Abstract

The tremendous explosion of technology acceptance theories has not spared the corpus of technology adoption literature from criticism that most of these models only evaluate the adoption of new technology from a single perspective. In an effort to attenuate this criticism, this breaks ranks with extant theories and proposes a unified model for evaluating technology adoption from multiple perspectives. The Technology Trade Theory (Triple-T) model which this study proposes integrates the Social Exchange Theory into the Technology Acceptance Model, and proposes that technology acceptance is a function of a deliberate process of weighing the advantages associated with that technology against its disadvantages. Adoption only happens when the advantages outweigh the disadvantages; otherwise, prospective adopters reject the technology. In this, the model recognizes a total of eight advantages and eight disadvantages associated with cloud computing, on the basis of which its claims are validated. Data is collected by means of structured psychometric scales administered to a panel of medium and top level IT managers. Psychometric scales are also used to attach weights to each of the variables under study. The Pearson’s coefficient and paired tailed tests are used to analyze the nature, strength and significance of the findings. Findings validate the major claims of the study, on the basis of which research implications are extensively discussed.