Antecedents of Software as a Service adoption for small and medium enterprise in developing countries

Abstract

Cloud computing Software as a Service (SaaS) has become one of the most hotly debated topics among enterprise information technology professionals (IT). Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with limited budgets and human resources are among the most frequent users of cloud computing to take advantage of this technology. Due to their limited financial resources, it is crucial for enterprises to adopt innovative technologies that do not require initial investment and can be deployed as and when required. The rapid improvements and innovations in SaaS in recent years have led to many companies in various industries accepting this technology as viable. The shift to SaaS comes with a number of challenges that go beyond the technology. The adoption of cloud computing in SMEs is influenced by a number of factors. Before deciding to use cloud-based solutions, these conditions need to be thoroughly assessed. The objective of this research is to investigate into the significant factors which influence Cloud computing Software as a Service (SaaS) adoption by Small and medium enterprises in the developing nations. Previous research has demonstrated that SaaS adoption benefits SMEs greatly. Therefore, the goal of this study to presents and develop a research model including Relative Advantage, Complexity, Security & Privacy, Compatibility, Top Management Support, SaaS Awareness, Organization Culture, Competitive Pressure, Regulatory Support, Personal Innovativeness and Prior Technology Experience factors based on the integration of the Technology Organisation Environment (TOE) and Human Organisation Technology Fit (HOT-fit) models. The study pertains to SMEs that have previously adopted cloud computing SaaS. The data can be obtained using a quantitative technique via surveys of SMEs in Qatar as a developing country and analyzed using the Smart PLS tool.