| The purpose of this study is to explore Cloud Computing options and present a decision support model for its adoption and use. This dissertation will study existing technology adoption and deployment models with the intent to develop and present an optimal method of technology adoption and implementation.;Cloud Computing promises enormous benefits to the Cloud consumers and other IT stakeholders, with the belief that this new and dynamic service delivery model revolutionizes business and enhances productivity. This approach to computing presents IT services as a commodity allowing firms to rent computing resources (applications, servers, storage and network) from Cloud Service Providers. Using this model, computing resources scale dynamically up or down to meet usage demands resulting in economic efficiencies. Other acclaimed benefits include improved performance, reliability, elasticity of resources (auto-scaling), and pay-per-use pricing model.;As a relatively new concept and one that is easily misunderstood, the rate of adoption and subsequent use of Cloud Computing is relatively slow. Some IT consumers are apprehensive to accept this new model due to perceived challenges, including standards, control and privacy concerns. In this research, we examine the what, the when, the how and the why of Cloud Computing; with the goal of exposing the pragmatic meaning and impact of, the path or roadmap to, and the adoption factors of Cloud Computing. Our study demonstrates the benefits of Cloud Computing; proposes a Cloud Computing Adoption and Use Model (CCAUM) and provides a roadmap to an efficient Cloud implementation. |
