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Cloud computing in industrial SMEs: identification of the barriers to its adoption and effects of its application

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Abstract

Cloud computing is a new technological paradigm that may revolutionize how organizations use IT by facilitating delivery of all technology as a service. In the literature, the Cloud is treated mainly through a technological approach focused on the concept definition, service models, infrastructures for its development and security problems. However, there is an important lack of works which analyze this paradigm adoption in SMEs and its results, with a gap between the technological development and its adoption by organizations. This paper uses a qualitative technique methodology -group meetings with managers- and a quantitative one—survey- and identifies which factors act as barriers to Cloud adoption and which positive effects its application generates in 94 industrial SMEs. The conclusion is that the main barriers are of a cultural type and that the positive effects go well beyond reducing costs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration, University of Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Spain

    Sara Trigueros-Preciado, Daniel Pérez-González & Pedro Solana-González

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  1. Sara Trigueros-Preciado
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  2. Daniel Pérez-González
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  3. Pedro Solana-González
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Correspondence to Daniel Pérez-González.

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Responsible editor: Ricardo Colomo-Palacios

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Trigueros-Preciado, S., Pérez-González, D. & Solana-González, P. Cloud computing in industrial SMEs: identification of the barriers to its adoption and effects of its application. Electron Markets 23, 105–114 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-012-0120-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-012-0120-4

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